st, they have changed eyes, in
so far as to read each other's hearts, even indifferently, which is much
where two women are concerned, there is only one resource, and that is
to fall into each other's arms, and to weep if it be convenient, or to
hold their tears for a more fitting occasion; and most people will admit
that tears need not add to a bride's beauty.

Marion might, therefore, be pardoned if she had her tears in her throat
and not in her eyes, and Lali, if they arose for a moment no higher than
her heart. But they did fall into each other's arms despite veils and
orange blossoms, and somehow Marion had the feeling for Lali that she
had on that first day at Greyhope, four years ago, when standing on
the bridge, the girl looked down into the water, tears dropping on her
hands, and Marion said to her: "Poor girl! poor girl!" The situations
were the same, because Lali had come to a new phase of her life, and
what that phase would be who could tell-happiness or despair?

The usual person might think that Lali was placing herself and her
wifely affection at a rather high price, but then it is about the only
thing that a woman can place high, even though she be one-third a white
woman and two-thirds an Indian. Here was a beautiful woman, who had
run the gamut of a London season, who had played a pretty social part,
admirably trained therefor by one of the best and most cultured families
of England. Besides, why should any woman sell her affections even to
her husband, bargain away her love, the one thing that sanctifies "what
God hath joined let no man put asunder"? Lali was primitive, she was
unlike so many in a trivial world, but she was right. She might suffer,
she might die, but, after all, there are many things worse than that.
Man is born in a day, and he dies in a day, and the thing is easily
over; but to have a sick heart for three-fourths of one's lifetime is
simply to have death renewed every morning; and life at that price is
not worth living. In this sensitive age we are desperately anxious to
save life, as if it was the really great thing in the world; but in
the good, strong times of the earth--and in these times, indeed, when
necessity knows its hour--men held their lives as lightly as a bird upon
the housetop which any chance stone might drop.

It is possible that at this moment the two women understood each other
better than they had ever done, and respected each other more. Lali,
recovering hersel