empearl it, how fresh and cool the wind that sweeps over it, how bright the sun that feeds its pulses,—­the curled petals are never smoothed, the hot blasts leaves its ineffaceable blight.  To me, the thought of marriage comes no more than to one who knows death sits waiting only for the setting of the sun, to claim his own.  That phase of life is as inaccessible and uninviting to me, as Antartic circumpolar lands; and even in thought, I have no temptation to explore it.  My future and my past are so interblended, that I could as easily tear out my heart and continue to breathe, as attempt to separate them.  I have a certain work to do, and its accomplishment bars all other paths.”

“Does the nature of that work involve vows of celibacy?”

“Sometimes fate decrees for us, allowing no voluntary vows.  How soon the path to my work will open before me, I cannot tell; but the day must come, and like a pilgrim girded, I wait and watch.”

“Can you find elsewhere a nobler field of work than surrounds you here?”

“Certainly not, and some dross of selfishness mingles with the motives that will ultimately bear me beyond these hallowing precincts; yet a day may come, when having fulfilled a sacred duty, I shall travel back, praying you to let me live, and work, and die among you.”

“My sister, your patient submission, your tireless application, have endeared you to me; and I should grieve to lose you from our little gray band, where your artistic labors have reflected so much credit on the ’Home’.”

“Thank you, Sister Ruth; praise from fellow toilers is praise indeed, and the greatest blessing one human being can bestow upon another, I owe to you; the blessing of being helped to procure work, which enables me to help myself.  If I leave the ‘Anchorage’ for a season, it will be on an errand such as Noah’s dove went forth from refuge to perform; and when I return with my olive branch, the deluge of my life will have spent its fury, and I shall rest in peace where the ark is anchored.”

“Do you imagine that desertion from our ranks will be so readily condoned?  Drum-head court martial obtains here.”

“Would you call it desertion, if seizing the flag of duty that floats over us here, I forsook the camp only long enough to scout on a dangerous outpost, to fight single-handed a desperate battle!  If I fell, the folds of our banner would shroud me; if I conquered, would you not all greet me, when weary and worn I dragged myself back to the ranks?  Some day, when I tap at the ark window, you will open your arms and take me in; for then my earthly mission will have ended, and the smoke of the accepted sacrifice will linger in my garments.”