Hester saw it was not for her now to pursue the argument. And one would almost imagine it scarce needed pursuing! For who shall walk safe in the haunts of evil but those upon whom, being pure, evil has no hold? The world's notions of purity are simply childish--because it is not itself pure. You might well suppose its cherished ones on the brink of all corruption, so much afraid does it seem of having them tainted _before their time_. Sorry would one be, but for the sake of those for whom Christ died, that any woman should be pained with the sight of evil, but the true woman may, even like God himself, know all evil and remain just as lovely, as clean, as angelic and worshipful as any child in the simplest country home. The idea of a woman like Hester being _in any sense_ defiled by knowing what her Lord knows while she fills up what is left behind of the sufferings of Christ for her to suffer for the sake of his world, is contemptible. As wrong melts away and vanishes in the heart of Christ, so does the impurity she encounters vanish in the heart of the pure woman: it is there burned up. "I hardly see what is to be done," said the major, after a moment's silence. "What do you say to an advertisement in _The Times_, to the effect that, if C. R. will return to his family, all will be forgiven?" "That I must not, dare not do. There is surely some other way of finding persons without going to the police!" "What do you think your father would like done?" "I do not know; but as I am Corney's sister, I will venture as a sister may. I think my father will be pleased in the end, but I will risk his displeasure for the sake of my brother. If my father were to cast him off, would you say I was bound to cast him off?" "I dare say nothing where you are sure, Hester. My only anxiety would be whether you thoroughly knew what you were about." "If one were able to look upon the question of life or death as a mere candle-flame in the sun of duty, would she not at least be more likely to do right than wrong?" "If the question were put about a soldier I should feel surer how to answer you," replied the major. "But you are so much better than I--you go upon such different tactics, that we can hardly, I fear, bring our troops right in front of each other.--I will do what I can for you--though I greatly fear your brother will never prove worth the trouble." "People have repented who have gone as far wrong as Corney," said Hester, with the tears in her voice it not in her eyes. "True!" responded the major; "but I don't believe he has character enough to repent of anything. He will be fertile enough in excuse! But I will do what I can to find out where he is." Hester heartily thanked him, and he took his leave.