"I never knew you to be stupid." "But isn't it so ?" persisted Susan.
"Yes--in a way," her cousin admitted.

"Only--the woman must keep herself pure until the ceremony has been performed." "But if he said so to her, wasn't that saying so to God just as much as if the preacher had been there ?" "No, it wasn't," said Ruth with irritation.

"And it's wicked to think such things.

All I know is, God says a woman must be married before she--before she has any children.

And your mother wasn't." Susan shook her head.