It would be inconvenient to him to change his lodgings,
and he could not ask Mrs. Jupp to turn Miss Snow and Miss Maitland out
of the house. Where was he to draw the line? Who would be just good
enough to live in the same house with him, and who just not good
enough?
Besides, where were these poor girls to go? Was he to drive them
from house to house till they had no place to lie in? It was absurd;
his duty was clear: he would go and see Miss Snow at once, and try
if he could not induce her to change her present mode of life; if he
found temptation becoming too strong for him he would fly then- so
he went upstairs with his Bible under his arm, and a consuming fire in
his heart.
He found Miss Snow looking very pretty in a neatly, not to say
demurely, furnished room. I think she had bought an illuminated text
or two, and pinned it up over her fireplace that morning. Ernest was
very much pleased with her, and mechanically placed his Bible upon the
table. He had just opened a timid conversation and was deep in
blushes, when a hurried step came bounding up the stairs as though
of one over whom the force of gravity had little power, and a man
burst into the room saying, "I'm come before my time.
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