my favourite example, because her position and talents, her earnest
nature and her piety, make her work a wonderful one. But I know many,
and have heard of more, who in a quiet, unobtrusive way are doing a
work, not so great as to results, but as true and holy. Some of them
are doing it as aunts or maiden sisters; some as teachers; some are only
humble needlewomen; some are servants in other people's kitchens or
nurseries--women who would be spoken of by the pitying or slighting name
of `old maid,' who are yet more worthy of respect for the work they are
doing, and for the influence they are exerting, than many a married
woman in her sphere. Why should such a woman be pitied or despised, I
wonder?"

"Miss Graeme, you look as though you thought I was among the pitiers and
despisers of such women, and you are wrong. Every word you say in their
praise and honour is truth, and canna be gainsaid. But that doesna
prove what you began with, that the chances of happiness in married and
single life are equal."

"It goes far to prove it--the chances of usefulness, at any rate."

"No, my dear, because I dare say, on the other hand, many could be told
of who fail to do their work in single life, and who fail to get
happiness in it as well. Put the one class over against the other, and
then consider the many, many women who marry for no other reason than
from the fear of living single, it will go far to account for the many
unhappy marriages that we see, and far to prove that marriage is the
natural and proper expectation of woman, and that in a sense she _does_
fail in life, who falls short of that. In a certain sense, I say."

"But it does not follow from that that she is thenceforth to be an
object of pity or derision, a spectacle to men and angels!"

"Whist, my dear; no, that doesna follow of necessity. That depends on
herself somewhat, though not altogether, and there are too many single
women who make spectacles of themselves in one way or other. But, my
dear, what I say is this: As the world is, it is no easy thing for a
woman to warstle through it alone, and the help she needs she can get
better from her husband than from any other friend. And though it is a
single woman's duty to take her lot and make the best of it, with God's
help, it is no' to be denied, that it is not the lot a woman would
choose. My saying it doesna make it true, but ask you the women to whom
you justly give so high a place, how it was