the dearest. In our
different ways we long only for what is best for you. If only it might
be revealed to you and us alike! Many paths are good paths to walk in,
and the way may be happy in any one of them, for happiness is of the
spirit. It is in you--not made for you by circumstances. We have been
so happy here, since you came home wounded, and to be wounded is not a
happy thing, as you well know; but it seemed to bring you and me
happiness, nevertheless. Did it not, dear?"

"Indeed yes, mother. Yes. It gave me a chance to have you to myself a
lot, and that ought to make any man happy, with a mother like you. And
now--a new happiness came to me, the other day, that I meant to speak
of yesterday and couldn't after getting so angry with father. It
seemed like sacrilege to speak of it then, and, besides, there was
another feeling that made me hesitate."

"So you are in love with some one, Peter?"

"Yes, mother. How did you guess it?"

"Because only love is a feeling that would make you say you could not
speak of it when your heart is full of anger. Is it Betty, dear?"

"Yes, mother. You are uncanny to read me so."

She laughed softly and held him closer. "I love Betty, too, Peter. You
will always be gentle and kind? You will never be hard and stern with
her?"

"Mother! Have I ever been so? Can't you tell by the way I have always
acted toward you that I would be tender and kind? She will be
myself--my very own. How could I be otherwise?"

Again Hester smiled her slow, wise smile. "You have always been
tender, Peter, but you have always gone right along and done your own
way, absolutely. The only reason there has not been more friction
between you and your father has been that you have been tactful; also
you have never seemed to desire unworthy things. You have been a good
son, dear: I am not complaining. And the only reason why I have
never--or seldom--felt hurt by your taking your own way has been that
my likings have usually responded to yours, and the thing I most
desired was that you should be allowed to take your own way. It is
good for a man to be decided and to have a way of his own: I have
liked it in you. But the matter still stands that it has always been
your way and never any one's else that you have taken. I can see you
being stern even with a wife you thought you wholly loved if her will
once crossed yours."

Peter Junior was silent and a little hurt. He rose and paced the room.
"I can't think I