"You did wrong to provoke her, Paul," said Aunt Lucy, gravely.

"How could I help it?" asked Paul, earnestly. "If she had only abused
ME, I should not have cared so much, but when she spoke about you, who
have been so kind to me, I could not be silent."

"I thank you, Paul, for your kind feeling," said the old lady, gently,
"but we must learn to bear and forbear. The best of us have our faults
and failings."

"What are yours, Aunt Lucy?"

"O, a great many."

"Such as what?"

"I am afraid I am sometimes discontented with the station which God has
assigned me."

"I don't think you can be very much to blame for that. I should never
learn to be contented here if I lived to the age of Methuselah."

Paul lay quite still for an hour or more. During that time he formed a
determination which will be announced in the next chapter.




VI.