"But--it won't be easy." A reflective silence, and she repeated, "No, not easy." "Easier than to resist and repine and rage and hunt another man who, on close acquaintance, would prove even less satisfactory," replied her grandmother.

"Easy--if you honestly try." She looked down at the girl with the sympathy that goes out to inexperience from those who have lived long and thoughtfully and have seen many a vast and fearful bogy loom and, on nearer view, fade into a mist of fancy.

"Above all, child, don't waste your strength on imaginary griefs and woes--you'll have none left for the real trials." Margaret had listened attentively; she would remember what the old lady had said--indeed, it would have been hard to forget words so direct and so impressively uttered.

But at the moment they made small impression upon her.

She thought her grandmother kindly but cold.