There be times when the heart sickens at it, and one is fain to lay all aside sooner than have to own allegiance to any one party, when one sees the bad as well as the good of all." Petronella's eyes were wide with astonishment and perplexity.

She felt as though she had a very Solon for a brother when Cuthbert talked after this serious fashion.

But she too had heard from the Trevlyns of the Chase somewhat of the burning questions of the day, and she was not wholly uninstructed in the matter.
"That is one boon granted to us weak women," she said, with a shadowy little smile.

"We are not called upon to take part in the world's battlefield.

We may think our own thoughts, and go our quiet way in the main unheeded and unmolested.