r.'

'Ah, we use words in a different sense. I speak of human nature, not of
the effect of institutions.'

'Now it is you who are unpractical. Those views lead only to pessimism
and paralysis of effort.'

Miss Barfoot rose.

'I give in to your objection against bringing the girl back to work
here. I will help her in other ways. It's quite true that she isn't to
be relied upon.'

'Impossible to trust her in any detail of life. The pity is that her
degradation can't be used as an object lesson for our other girls.'

'There again we differ. You are quite mistaken in your ideas of how the
mind is influenced. The misery of Bella Royston would not in the least
affect any other girl's way of thinking about the destiny of her sex.
We must avoid exaggeration. If our friends get to think of us as
fanatics, all our usefulness is over. The ideal we set up must be
human. Do you think now that we know one single girl who in her heart
believes it is better never to love and never to marry?'

'Perhaps not,' admitted Rhoda, more cheerful now that she had gained
her point. 'But we know several who will not dream of marrying unless
reason urges them as strongly as inclination.'

Miss Barfoot laughed.

'Pray, who ever distinguished in such a case between reason and
inclination?'

'You are most unusually sceptical to-day,' said Rhoda, with an
impatient laugh.

'No, my dear. We happen to be going to the root of things, that's all.
Perhaps it's as well to do so now and then. Oh, I admire you immensely,
Rhoda. You are the ideal adversary of those care-nothing and
believe-nothing women who keep the world back. But don't prepare for
yourself a woeful disillusion.'

'Take the case of Winifred Haven,' urged Miss Nunn. 'She is a
good-looking and charming girl, and some one or other will want to
marry her some day, no doubt.'

'Forgive my interrupting you. There is great doubt. She has no money
but what she can earn, and such girls, unless they are exceptionally
beautiful, are very likely indeed to remain unsought.'

'Granted. But let us suppose she has an offer. Should you fear for her
prudence?'

'Winifred has much good sense,' admitted the other. 'I think she is in
as little danger as any girl we know. But it wouldn't startle me if she
made the most lamentable mistake. Certainly I don't fear it. The girls
of our class are not like the uneducated, who, for one reason or
another, will marry almost any man rather than remain sin