It was blasphemy
to think of her in such case, subjected to the degradation of
these processes. Yet, every word had in it the piercing, horrible
sting of truth. His face whitened. He raised a supplicating
hand.
"Father!"
"That's what they will do to your wife," Gilder went on harshly;
"to the woman who bears your name and mine." There was a little
pause, and the father stood rigid, menacing. The final question
came rasping. "What are you going to do about it?"
Dick went forward until he was close to his father. Then he spoke
with profound conviction.
"It will never happen. She will go straight, Dad. That I know.
You would know it if you only knew her as I do."
Gilder once again put his hand tenderly on his son's shoulder.
His voice was modulated to an unaccustomed mildness as he spoke.
"Be sensible, boy," he pleaded softly. "Be sensible!"
Dick dropped down on the couch, and made his answer very gently,
his eyes unseeing as he dwelt on the things he knew of the woman
he loved.
"Why, Dad," he said, "she is young.
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