“Itisbysufferingthatwerisetoourhigherself,”saidMissGlover.“Sufferingisafirethatburnsawaythegrossnessofourmaterialnatures.”
“Whatrubbishyoutalk,”criedBertha,passionately.“Youcansaythatwhenyou’veneversuffered.Peoplesaythatsufferingennoblesoneit’salie,itonlymakesonebrutal....ButIwouldhaveborneit—forthesakeofmychild.Itwasalluseless—utterlyuseless.Dr.Ramsaytoldmethechildhadbeendeadthewholetime.Oh,ifGodmademesufferlikethat,it’sinfamous.Iwonderyou’renotashamedtoputitdowntoGod.HowcanyouimagineHimtobesostupid,socruel!Why,eventhevilestbeastintheslumswouldn’tcauseawomansuchfrightfulanduselessagonyforthemerepleasureofit.”
MissGloversprangtoherfeet.“Bertha,yourillnessisnoexcuseforthis.Youmusteitherbemad,orutterlydepravedandwicked.”
“No,I’mmorecharitablethanyou,”criedBertha.“IknowthereisnoGod.”
“ThenI,forone,canhavenothingmoretodowithyou.”MissGlover’scheekswereflaming,andasuddenindignationdispelledherhabitualshyness.
“Fanny,Fanny!”criedherbrother,“restrainyourself.”
“Oh,thisisn’tatimetorestrainone’sself,Charles.It’sone’sdutytospeakoutsometimes.No,Bertha,ifyou’reanatheist,Icanhavenothingmoretodowithyou.”
“Shespokeinanger,”saidtheVicar.“Itisnotourdutytojudgeher.”
“It’sourdutytoprotestwhenthenameofGodistakeninvain,Charles.IfyouthinkBertha’spositionexcusesherblasphemies,Charles,thenIthinkyououghttobeashamedofyourself....ButI’mnotafraidtospeakout.Yes,Bertha,I’veknownforalongtimethatyouwereproudandheadstrong,butIthoughttimewouldchangeyou.Ihavealwayshadconfidenceinyou,becauseIthoughtatthebottomyouweregood.ButifyoudenyyourMaker,Bertha,therecanbenohopeforyou.”
“Fanny,Fanny,”murmuredtheVicar.
“Letmespeak,CharlesIthinkyou’reabadandwickedwoman—andIcannolongerfeelsorryforyou,becauseeverythingthatyouhavesufferedIthinkyouhavethoroughlydeserved.Yourheartisabsolutelyhard,andIknownothingsothoroughlywickedasahard-heartedwoman.”
“MydearFanny,”saidBertha,s