mother should have."

"And no more? But what about Wallace? Have you exacted the attention
from him that you should have? Does he owe you nothing? Why shouldn't
he spend what he earns in caring for his mother, instead of spending
every penny as he pleases? Is there one set of rules for daughters,
and another for sons? Why haven't you tied him up? Are you sure he's
capable, when he reaches Peru, of supporting a wife? Or will he simply
draw on Mr. Balcome--the way he's lived on me."

"You ought to be ashamed to speak of your brother in such a way!"

"How much more ashamed he ought to be to think that he's deserving of
such criticism."

"I can't think what has come over you!"

"It's what you said a moment ago: My eyes are opened. At eighteen
years of age, you planned your future for yourself. But you needed
me--so you claimed me, body and soul! And you've let me give you my
whole girlhood--my young womanhood. You've kept me single--and very
busy. And now,--I'm an old maid!"

The blue eyes glinted with satisfaction. "Well, you are an old maid."

"An old maid! In other words, my purity's a joke!"

"Now, we're getting vulgar."

"Vulgar? Have you forgotten what you said to Laura Farvel? You
taunted her because she's not 'good' as you call it. And you taunt me
because I am! But who is farther in the scheme of things--she or I? I
envy her because she's borne a child. At least she's a woman. Nature
means us to marry and have our little ones. The women who don't
obey--what happens to them? The years go"--she looked away now, beyond
the walls of Tottie's front-parlor, at a picture her imagining called
up--"the light fades from their eyes, the gloss from their hair; they
get 'peculiar.' And people laugh at them--and I don't wonder!" Then
passionately, "Look at me! Mature! Unmarried! Childless! Where in
Nature do I belong? Nowhere! I'm a freak!"

"No, my dear." Mrs. Milo smiled derisively. "You're a martyr."

"Yes! To my mother."

"Don't forget"--the well-bred voice grew shrill--"that I _am_ your
mother."

"You gave me birth. But--reproduction isn't motherhood."

"Ah!"--mockingly. "So I haven't loved you!"

"Oh, you've loved me," granted Sue. "You've loved me too much--in the
wrong way. It's a mistaken love that makes a mother stand between her
daughter and happiness."

"I deny----"

"Wait!--I got the proof today! I repeat--you forgot everything you've
ever stood for at th