I don't want to be selfish," she repeated, "but I must be free.

I don't understand Aunt Anne.

She never seems to care for me.

I want to do everything for her I can, but I don't want to be under any one ever any more." She was so young when she said this that he was suddenly moved to an affectionate fatherly tenderness--but he knew her now too well to show it.
"No, you mustn't be selfish," he answered her almost drily.

"We can't lead our lives quite alone, you know--every step we take we affect some one somewhere.