it! I knew it was coming! She affected to ask my advice, but I
told her it was waste of time, as she had really made up her mind what
she meant to do. Then she began to cry, and said I was cruel, and went
away with you so willingly that I thought perhaps, after all, I had
judged too quickly, for she _does_ care for you, Arthur, I know she
does! She could not deny that, I suppose?"

"No, she did not deny it. She loves me in her own way, but it's not my
way, Peg--or yours! She would have been happy with me if I had been
rich, but she is not prepared to make any sacrifices on my account, and
would rather give me up than live a quiet, restricted life. She does
not even understand how much she is losing, poor girl, or how little
satisfaction she will get in return!"

Peggy set her lips tightly.

"No, she does not understand, and that makes one sorry for her, for she
misses just the best thing in life. I used to think when I was a child
that the thing I wanted most was for people to love me--not in an
ordinary, calm, matter-of-fact sort of way, you know, but to love me
_frightfully_, and care for me more than any one else in the world! I
used to put myself to any amount of trouble to be agreeable, for even if
I did not care for a person myself, it worried me to death if that
person were not devoted to me! There were thirty-six girls at school
besides the governesses, so you may imagine how exhausting it was to be
nice to them all. Well, I've come to the conclusion that it's a
mistake. It's sweet to be loved, but it's ever so much sweeter to love.
It is so inspiring to forget all about one's tiresome little self, and
care more for somebody else. When I love people, I feel," Peggy threw
back her head and expanded her little shoulders with a terrific breath,
"_omnipotent_! There is nothing I could not _be_ or _do_ or suffer to
help them. The more they need from me the happier I am. Don't you know
how you feel after listening to a beautiful sermon--that you really wish
something disagreeable would happen, to give you an opportunity of
behaving well and being sweet and unselfish? Well, that's just how one
feels in a lesser way to the people one loves on earth. It's how I feel
to you at this moment, Arthur darling, when I know you are suffering. I
wish I could take all the misery and bear it for you. Is your heart
quite broken, you dear old lad?"

"No, Peg, it is not. I feel miserable enough, but I don't del