"Oh! yes, I mind. But I convinced you of your error. Indeed, I look
upon myself as an object for commiseration rather than blame; so you
mustna look cross, and you mustna look too pitiful either, for I am
going to prove to you and Fanny and all the rest that an old maid is, by
no means, an object of pity. Quite the contrary."

"But, my dear, it seems strange-like, and not quite right for you to be
setting your face against what is plainly ordained as woman's lot. It
is no' ay an easy or a pleasant one, as many a poor woman kens to her
sorrow; but--"

"But, Janet, you are mistaken. I am not setting my face against
anything; but why should you blame me for what I canna help? And,
besides, it is not ordained that every woman should marry. They say
married-life is happier, and all that; but a woman may be happy and
useful, too, in a single life, even if the higher happiness be denied
her."

"But, my dear, what ailed you at him you sent away the other week--him
that Rosie was telling me of?"

"Rosie had little to do telling you anything of the kind. Nothing
particular ailed me at him. I liked him very well till--. But we won't
speak of it."

"Was he not good enough? He was a Christian man, and well off, and
well-looking. What said your brother to your refusal?" persisted Janet.

"Oh! he said nothing. What could he say? He would have known nothing
about it if I had had my will. A woman must decide these things for
herself. I did what I thought right. I could not have done otherwise."

"But, my love, you should consider--"

"Janet, I did consider. I considered so long that I came very near
doing a wrong thing. Because he was Arthur's friend, and because it
seems to be woman's lot, and in the common course of things, and because
I was restless and discontented, and not at peace with myself, and
nothing seemed to matter to me, I was very near saying `Yes,' and going
with him, though I cared no more for him than for half a dozen others
whom you have seen here. What do you think of that for consideration?"

"That would have been a great wrong both to him and to yourself. I
canna think you would ever be so sinful as to give the hand where the
heart is withheld. But, my dear, you might mistake. There are more
kinds of love than one; at least there are many manifestations of true
love; and, at your age, you are no' to expect to have your heart and
fancy taken utterly captive by any man. You have to