ll men
in a spirit of brotherly love--but what a thing to ask for! What a
thing to try for! If I were a man, I would pray that I might gain
influence over my fellows just for that--just--for that," said Mary.

"Ah," replied her husband, with fond optimism, "you need not say 'If I
were a man,' for that. It is the women who have the influence; don't
you know that, Mary?"

Mary looked down at her work, an incredulous smile playing about her
lips.

"Well, my dear?" Bertrand loved a response.

"Well, Bertrand? Men do like to talk about our 'sweet influence,'
don't they?" Then she laughed outright.

"But, Mary--but, Mary, it is true. Women do more with their influence
than men can do with their guns," and Bertrand really meant what he
said. Dusky shadows filled the room, but if the light had been
stronger, he would have seen that little ironical smile still playing
about his wife's lips.

"Did you see Judge Logan again about those Waupaca lots?"

Bertrand wondered what the lots had to do with the subject, but
suffered the digression patiently, for the feminine mind was not
supposed to be coherent. "Yes, my love; I saw him yesterday."

"What did you do about them? I hope you refused."

"No, my dear. I thought best not. He showed me very conclusively that
in time they will be worth more--much more--than the debt."

"Then why did he offer them to you for the debt? The portrait you
painted for him will be worth more, too, in time, than the debt. You
remember when you asked me what I thought, I said we needed the money
more now."

"Yes, I remember; but this plan is a looking toward the future. I
didn't think it wise to refuse."

Mary said nothing, but went out, returning presently with two lighted
candles. Bertrand was replenishing the fire. Had he been looking at
her face with the light of the candles on it as she carried them, he
would have noticed that little smile about her lips.

"I'm very glad we brought the bees in yesterday," he said. "This storm
would have made it impossible to do it to-day, and we should have lost
them."

"How about those lectures, dear? The 'boys' are all gone now, and you
won't have them to take up your time evenings, so you can easily
prepare them. They will take you into the city now and then, and that
will keep you in touch with the world outside this village." Bertrand
had been requested to give a series of lectures on art in one of the
colleges in the city. He had been well plea