l
and strong, but it isn't the same strength as a man's. We are
constantly running up against things we cannot, ought not to do. I _do_
envy the boys, I cannot help it."

"Yes!" cried Margaret, leaning forward, a soft flush rising to her
cheeks. "I know--it is glorious to see them; but, Bell, isn't the very
weakness part of our strength? Isn't it just because women _know_
the--the things they cannot do, that they are able to understand and
sympathize, and--and help, in ways that men cannot, because they do not
know?"

"I think Margaret is right!" said Gertrude, slowly. "And besides, there
is strength and strength, Bell. For long endurance of pain or hardship,
the woman will outlast the man nine times out of ten, I believe; and I
heard Doctor Strong say once that women would often bear pain quietly
that would set a man raving. Yes, I come over to your side, May
Margaret. I would take Joan of Arc, if it were not for the stake. Let
me see--oh, I know! I will be Grace Darling."

"Who was she?" asked Kitty.

"The lighthouse-keeper's daughter, at Longstone, off the Yorkshire
coast. A ship, the _Forfarshire_, was wrecked on the rocks near by, and
there seemed no chance of saving any of the crew; but Grace persuaded
her father to try, and just those two rowed out, in a most terrible
storm, to the reef on which the vessel had been wrecked, and saved the
nine men, all that were left out of sixty-three, who were clinging to
the rocks, waiting for death. Why wasn't that just as fine as commanding
an army, or even leading a forlorn hope in battle? Then there was dear
Margaret Roper--I think she is the one for you, May Margaret!--and
Cochrane's Bonny Grizzy, and--oh, ever and ever so many of them. Yes, I
take up my stand once and for all on my own side."

"Well!" said Bell, shaking her head. "I hear what you say, Betsy, but
it makes no difference,--does it, Peggy?--though I admit the force of
your remarks."

"Not a bit!" said Peggy. "I wouldn't have been Mrs. La Salle for a
farm."

"There wasn't any!" said Margaret.

"The principle remains the same," said Peggy, "as Miss Russell used to
say."

"There is another thing!" said Margaret. "Your life out here, Bell,
shows me how much girls _can_ do; I mean in the active, outdoor,
athletic way. More than I ever dreamed they could do. It really seems to
me that, except just for the petticoats, you have very few drawbacks. I
suppose it is having all the brothers. Why, you know as