With a corner of her apron she wiped imaginary dust from the glass bells that protected the artificial flowers.

The poor child! And all for no fault of hers--and because she had been born out of wedlock.

But then, the old woman reflected, was it not one of the most familiar of God's mysterious ways that people were punished most severely of all for the things that weren't their fault--for being born in shame, or in bad or low families, or sickly, or for being stupid or ugly or ignorant?
She envied Zeke--his unwavering belief in religion.

She believed, but her tender heart was always leading her into doubts.
She at last got some sort of control over her voice.

"It'll turn out for the best," she said, with her back to Susan.