And was there ever a better , kinder , more lovable man ? '' `` Mother believed in God ; mother always went to church , '' pleaded Salome . `` Mother was weak and superstitious , just as you are , '' retorted Judith inflexibly . `` I tell you , Salome , I do n't believe there is a God . But , if there is , He is cruel and unjust , and I hate Him . '' `` Judith ! '' gasped Salome , aghast at the impiety . She half expected to see her sister struck dead at her feet . `` Do n't ` Judith ' me ! '' said Judith passionately , in the strange anger that any discussion of the subject always roused in her . `` I mean every word I say . Before you got lame I did n't feel much about it one way or another ; I 'd just as soon have gone with mother as with father . But , when you were struck down like that , I knew father was right . '' For a moment Salome quailed . She felt that she could not , dare not , stand out against Judith . For her own sake she could not have done so , but the thought of Lionel Hezekiah nerved her to desperation . She struck her thin , bleached little hands wildly together . `` Judith , I 'm going to church to-morrow , '' she cried . `` I tell you I am , I wo n't set Lionel Hezekiah a bad example one day longer . I 'll not take him ; I wo n't go against you in that , for it is your bounty feeds and clothes him ; but I 'm going myself . ''
`` If you do , Salome Marsh , I 'll never forgive you , '' said Judith , her harsh face dark with anger ; and then , not trusting herself XXXXX discuss the subject any longer , she went out .
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