She did not see why her existence should be wrecked because a scoundrel
happened to be supported by a disreputable paragraph of the Code.
Muhlen was a troublesome insect. He must be brushed aside. Ridiculous
to call such a thing a tragedy!
He thought of the insignificance of a human life. Thousands of decent
upright folks swept away at a blow. . . . Who cared? One dirty
blackmailer more or less: what on earth did it matter to anybody?
An enigma? His cousin was not an enigma at all. Keith had called her a
tiger mother. That was correct. Not every parent could do what she had
done. Not every parent could do what she had done. Not every parent was
placed under the necessity. Not every parent had the grit. If all of
them fought for their offspring after this fashion, the race would be
stronger and better. Thinking thus, he not only understood. He
approved. Mrs. Meadows had saved her family. She was perfect of her
kind.
Suddenly he remembered that other parent on the passenger boat when he
came to Nepenthe--that ugly peasant-woman dressed in black, with the
scar across her cheek--how she had tried to console her suffering child.
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