"
"Thank you."
"Don't laugh. It's too serious."
"That's just my point. It IS serious. Here is a man
who is a helpless burden. He may be restored to reason
and usefulness--"
"He was so very useful before," interjected Anne
witheringly.
"He may be given a chance to make good and redeem the
past. His wife doesn't know this. I do. It is
therefore my duty to tell her that there is such a
possibility. That, boiled down, is my decision."
"Don't say `decision' yet, Gilbert. Consult somebody
else. Ask Captain Jim what he thinks about it."
"Very well. But I'll not promise to abide by his
opinion, Anne.
This is something a man must decide for himself. My
conscience would never be easy if I kept silent on the
subject."
"Oh, your conscience!" moaned Anne. "I suppose that
Uncle Dave has a conscience too, hasn't he?"
"Yes. But I am not the keeper of his conscience.
Come, Anne, if this affair did not concern Leslie--if
it were a purely abstract case, you would agree with
me,--you know you would."
"I wouldn't," vowed Anne, trying to believe it
herself.
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