"
"Perhaps so. Nothing is impossible," said Mrs. Sandford, with but
little assent in her voice. "But who is to lift them up and where
will you take them? Let us instance Mr. Ridley for the sake of
illustration. What will you do with him? How will you go about the
work of rescue? Tell me."
Mrs. Birtwell had nothing to propose. She only felt an intense
yearning to save this man, and in her yearning an undefined
confidence had been born. There must be away to save even the
most wretched and abandoned of human beings, if we could but find
that way, and so she would not give up her hope of Mr. Ridley--nay,
her hope grew stronger every moment; and to all the suggestions of
Mrs. Sanford looking to help for the daughter she supplemented
something that included the father, and so pressed her views that
the other became half impatient and exclaimed:
"I will have nothing to do with the miserable wretch!"
Mrs. Birtwell went away with a heavy heart after leaving a small sum
of money for Mrs. Sandford to use as her judgment might dictate,
saying that she would call and see her again in a few days.
The Rev. Mr. Brantly Elliott was sitting in his pleasant study,
engaged in writing, when a servant opened the door and said:
"A gentleman wishes to see you, sir."
"What name?" asked the clergyman.
"He did not give me his name. I asked him, but he said it wasn't any
matter. I think he's been drinking, sir.
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