ittle neglects--or
you think there are. I will not say there are none, for that would be
answering too much for human nature, or that they are fanciful--for that
would be as little comfort as to tell a patient that the pain is only
nervous--"

Miss Bracy smiled, for she could remember instances when, after
suffering much at the time, she had found the affront imaginary.

He was glad of that smile, and proceeded. "You will let me speak to
you, as to one of my own girls? To them, I should say, use the only true
cure. Don't brood over vexations, small or great, but think of them as
trials that, borne bravely, become blessings."

"Oh! but Dr. May!" she exclaimed, shocked; "nothing in your house could
call for such feelings."

"I hope we are not very savage," he said, smiling; "but, indeed, I still
say it is the safest rule. It would be the only one if you were really
among unkind people; and, if you take so much to heart an unlucky
neglect of mine, what would you do if the slight were a true one?"

"You are right; but my feelings were always over-sensitive;" and this
she said with a sort of complacency.

"Well, we must try to brace them," said Dr. May, much as if prescribing
for her. "Will not you believe in our confidence and esteem, and harden
yourself against any outward unintentional piece of incivility?"

She felt as if she could at that moment.

"Or at least, try to forgive and forget them. Talking them over only
deepens the sense of them, and discussions do no good to any one. My
daughters are anxious to be your best friends, as I hope you know."

"Oh! they are most kind--"

"But, you see, I must say this," added Dr. May, somewhat hesitating, "as
they have no mother to--to spare all this," and then, growing clearer,
he proceeded, "I must beg you to be forbearing with them, and not
perplex yourself and them with arguing on what cannot be helped.
They have not the experience that could enable them to finish such a
discussion without unkindness; and it can only waste the spirits, and
raise fresh subjects of regret. I must leave you--I hear myself called."

Miss Bracy began to be sensible that she had somewhat abused
Ethel's patience; and the unfortunate speech about the source of her
sensitiveness did not appear to her so direfully cruel as at first.
She hoped every one would forget all about it, and resolved not to take
umbrage so easily another time, or else be silent about it, but she was
not a person of