“We're not bound to explain everything to you, Richard. It ought to be enough that we _have_ a good reason.” “If it be a good reason, why shouldn't I know it, mother?” he persisted. “Good things don't require to be hidden.” “That's very true; they do not.” “Then why hide this one?” “Because it is not good.” “You said it was a good reason!” “So it is.” “Good and not good! How can that be?” said Richard, with a great lack of logic. By this time he ought to have been able to see that the worst of facts may be the best of reasons. His mother held her peace, knowing she was right, but not knowing how to answer what she thought his cleverness. “I mean to go and see them, mother,” he said. “You'll repent it, Richard. The woman is not respectable!” “She won't bite me!” “There's worse than biting!” “I allow,” pursued Richard, “she may take a drop too much; her nose does look a little suspicious! But if she ain't what she should be, it's hard lines Arthur and Alice should suffer for the sins of their mother.” “The Bible says the sins of the fathers are visited on the children.” “The Bible! If the Bible says what ain't right, are we to do it?” “Richard, I'll have no such word spoken again in my house!” exclaimed his mother. “Are you going to turn me out, mother, because I say we should not do what is wrong, whoever tells us to?” “No, Richard! You said the Bible said what was wrong; and that's blasphemy!” “Didn't you say, mother, that the Bible said we ought to visit the sins of the fathers on the children?” “God forbid!” cried the poor woman, driven almost to distraction; “I said nothing of the kind! That would be awful! What the Bible says is, that God does so.” “Well, if God chooses, we must leave him to do as he chooses--not do likewise!” “Surely, surely, Richard! If _he_ does it, he knows what he's about, and we don't.” “All right, mother! Then tell me where Arthur and Alice are gone. I want to go and see them.” “I don't know. In fact, I took care not to know, that I mightn't be able to tell you.” “But why?” “Never mind why. I don't know where they are, and couldn't tell you if I would.” Richard turned angrily away, and went to his room, weary and annoyed. In the morning his mother said to him-- “Richard, I can't bear there should be any misunderstanding between you and me! The moment you are one and twenty, ask me and I will tell you why I would not have you knowing those people. Believe me, I was right to stop it, for fear of what might follow.”