NCERNING SECOND LOVE

When the train stopped at a station they talked of the book in her hand,
and by the time it started on they were reading poems from the volume to
each other. The roar of the wheels did not drown her low, searching
tones; by bending close John could hear quite comfortably. Between
readings they discussed those truths of the heart on which the poems
touched. Later, though they still read aloud, they often looked on the
page together.

In the middle of one poem they turned the book face downward to consider
a question. Did Miss Garnet believe--Mr. March offered to admit that
among the small elect who are really capable of a divine passion there
may be some with whom a second love is a genuine and beautiful
possibility--yet it passed his comprehension--he had never seen two
dawns in one day--but did Miss Garnet believe such a second love could
ever have the depth and fervor of the first?

Yes, she replied with slow care, she did--in a man's case at least. To
every deep soul she did believe it was appointed to love once--yes--with
a greater joy and pain than ever before or after, but she hardly thought
this was first love. It was almost sure to be first love in a woman, for
a woman, she said, can't afford to let herself love until she knows she
is loved, and so her first love--when it really is love, and not a mere
consent to be loved----

"Which is frequently all it is," said John.

"Yes. But when it is a real love--it's fearfully sure and strong
_because_ it has to be slow. I believe when such a love as that leaves a
woman's heart, it is likely to leave it hope-less-ly strand-ed."

"And you think it's different with a man?"

"Why, I hope it's sometimes different with a woman; but I believe, Mr.
March, that with a man the chances are better. A man who simply must
love, and love with his whole soul----"

"Then you believe there are such?"

"Yes, there must be, or God wouldn't create some of the women he makes."

"True!" said John, very gallantly.

"But don't you think, Mr. March, a man of that sort is apt to love
prematurely and very faultily? His best fruit doesn't fall first.
Haven't you observed that a man's first love is just what a woman finds
it hardest to take in earnest?"

"Yes, I have observed that! And still--are you too cynical to believe
that there are men to whom first love is everything and second love
impossible?"

"No," said Barbara, with true resentment, "I'm not too c