the room, switching nervously at her booted ankles with her
riding-crop, to stop suddenly and raise a pale and stormy face.

"I know why you sent for me," she exclaimed, "and I know just what you
think of me. But I must tell you, Miss Sarah, that there is nothing
which can alter now, the least little bit, a decision which I know is
wisest and best!"

So she had the first word, never dreaming that Miss Sarah had seen to
that. Nor did the latter smile or seem to proffer argument at first.
Oh, Miss Sarah had the true instincts of a big soul!

"Barbara," she answered quietly, after her formal firmness had
prevailed and the girl had seated herself, "Barbara, when I sent for
you it was not with a belief that I might influence you, for both of us
know that this is your problem alone. I merely hoped to comfort, that
was all. More than once I have been guilty of trying to manage you a
little, but you will forgive me, I know, when I tell you that I have
loved Stephen almost all his life, as though he were my own, and hoped
as long for his great happiness. On more than one occasion I contrived
situations which I thought might make your choice my happiness, too. I
know now that I was no better than any other meddling old woman, whose
efforts are well meant but dangerous for all that. And I will meddle
no more. But--but my heart aches a little, too, to-day, Barbara. May
I just talk to you?"

Barbara blinked in surprise at the subdued sadness in the older woman's
voice. But her lips remained sullen.

"There is nothing more to be said," she reiterated uncompromisingly.
"I tell you I am sure!"

And from that statement, minutes before she had thought to hear it,
Miss Sarah learned, thankfully, just how deep was the girl's
uncertainty.

"Then I need not fear that I may sway you one inch from your own way of
reasoning." Her gentle voice might have held relief. "For you will
not consider it argument when I agree with you that hard and fast
reasoning is not always a dependable guide for a woman."

The girl was switching her ankles again.

"Why isn't it?" she demanded abruptly, hungry for it now that the
other, ostensibly, did not want to argue. "If reason is no guide, what
else is there left?"

"My dear, I do not know," acknowledged Miss Sarah. "Intuition is a
much over-worked word. And yet, had hard and fast reason been your
guide, you would not have refused Stephen, I am sure. For it would be
difficult to nam