f making quick choices whether you go this way or
that. Life is full of cross-roads, you will find, and not all of them
lead right. You can't marry the first man you meet just because he
asks you to. Later on you might meet some one who, you would then see,
is the man you ought to have married.... I don't want to put such
terrible ideas into your head, dear child; I've never spoken to you of
them, but such things have occurred and may occur again."

Helena was really quite excited. This was the first, almost, she had
ever heard of life and it seemed utterly tremendous. She was tired of
having choices made for her. She felt a call to the cross-roads. She
waited silently for more.

"You see, dear," went on Mrs. Hallam, pressing her child to her as
though she could not at all afford to let her go and be left all alone,
"you're young, very young, and though I've never told you, very
beautiful. You need not fear about being an old maid!" whereat, half
laughing and half crying, she kissed Helena, too dazed almost to
respond. "That will be possibly life's most important choice. Don't
make it, darling child, until you're fit for it. Stay with me," and
there was a pathetic appeal in her words, "stay with me till I've
taught you how to be reliant. You are a child still; I've kept you
young; I hope I have been right; you're not fit to go out and grapple
with the world. Stay with me, Helena; tell Mr. Brett that he must
wait, and stay here, in your home, until I've made you strong enough to
take your part in life."

"Stay here?" Helena repeated automatically.

For one brief moment the barred gates had swung open and she had gained
a glimpse at life, its dangers and responsibilities perhaps, but all
its splendid thrill and glorious chance. The few cold words from her
prim mother had conjured up a rich glowing picture to this girl, who
for years had chafed at the narrow round, longing for something--she
knew not what, but something broader, something where she could be much
more herself--longing, she knew now, for freedom and for life.

Mrs. Hallam looked at her with pain in her eyes.

"Aren't you happy, haven't you been happy here?" she asked.

"Why of course I have, you dearest of dear old mums," cried Helena, and
pressed her lips against her mother's cheek; "but----," and she
hesitated.

"But----?" asked her mother, smiling sadly. How ridiculous, how almost
tragic, it all was! She threw back her mind to he