Judith was generally so terribly in earnest in all she said . `` Perhaps it is because he has no other employment that he invents so many unheard-of things . If he had anything to occupy himself with -- perhaps if we sent him to school -- '' `` He 's too young to go to school . Father always said that no child should go to school until it was seven , and I do n't mean Lionel Hezekiah shall . Well , I 'm going to take a pail of hot water and a brush , and see what I can do to that henhouse door . I 've got my afternoon 's work cut out for me . '' Judith stood Salome 's crutch up beside her , and departed to purify the henhouse door . As soon as she was safely out of the way , Salome took her crutch , and limped slowly and painfully to the foot of the stairs . She could not go up and comfort Lionel Hezekiah as she yearned to do , which was the reason Judith had sent him up-stairs . Salome had not been up-stairs for fifteen years . Neither did she dare to call him out on the landing , lest Judith return . Besides , of course he must be punished ; he had been very naughty . `` But I wish I could smuggle a bit of supper up to him , '' she mused , sitting down on the lowest step and listening . `` I do n't hear a sound . I suppose he has cried himself to sleep , poor , dear baby . He certainly is dreadfully mischievous ; but it seems to me that it shows an investigating turn of mind , and if it could only be directed into the proper channels -- I wish Judith would let me have a talk with Mr. Leonard about Lionel Hezekiah . I wish Judith did n't hate ministers so . I do n't mind so much her not letting me go to church , because I 'm so lame that it would be painful anyhow ; but I 'd like to talk with Mr. Leonard now and then about some things . I can never believe that Judith and father were right ; I am sure they were not . There is a God , and I 'm afraid it 's terribly wicked not to go to church .
But there , nothing short XXXXX a miracle would convince Judith ; so there is no use in thinking about it .
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