“Spend it for God and my fellow creatures; and enjoy all the pure happiness I can appropriate without wronging others.  I have so many privileges granted me, that I ought to accomplish some good in this world, as a thank offering.”

“Take care you don’t make a fetich of Jerusalem missions, Chinese tracts, and Sheltering Arms; and lose your dear, sweet personality in a goody-goody machine bigot.  Forgive me, dear old girl, but sometimes I fear a shadow has fallen in your sunshine.”

“Sooner or later they fall into every life, yet mine will pass away I feel assured.  ’Pain, suffering, failure are as needful as ballast to a ship, without which it does not draw enough water, becomes a plaything for the winds and waves, travels no certain road, and easily overturns.’  If the gloomiest pessimist of this century can extract that comfort, what may I not hope for my future?  I am going to rebuild my house at X——­and when it is completed, I shall expect the privilege of returning the hospitality you have so kindly shown me.  I shall be very busy for at least two years, and I am glad to know that Aunt Patty is beginning to manifest some interest in my plans.”

“Leo, may I ask something?”

“If you are quite sure you have the right to ask, and that I can have no reason to decline answering.”

“I can’t bear that you should live and die without being a happy wife.  I don’t want you to become a mere benevolent automaton set aside for church work, and charities; getting solemn and thin, with patient curves deepening around your mouth, and loneliness looking out of—­

“‘Eyes, meek as gentle Mercy’s at the throne of heaven.’”

“To be a happy wife is the dream of womanhood, and if the day should ever dawn when God gives me that crown of joy, I shall wear it gladly, proudly, and feel that this world has yielded me its richest blessing; but, Alma, to-day I know no man whom I could marry with the hope of that perfect union which alone sanctions and hallows wedded love.  I must be all the world to my husband; and he—­next to God—­must be the universe to me.  There is Gen’l Haughton coming up the stairs, so I considerately efface myself.  Good-bye till luncheon.”

As she glided away and disappeared behind the curtain leading into the library, Alma looked after her, with very misty eyes, full of tenderness.

“Brave, proud soul; deep, sorrowful heart.  If she can’t drown her star, at least she will admit no lesser light.  She will never swerve one iota from her lofty standard, and some day, please God, she may yet wear her coveted crown right royally.  Governor Glenbeigh is worthy even of her, but will his devotion win her at last?”

CHAPTER XXXI.