friend worked.

'How shall I put it?' replied the other, smiling. 'To make women
hard-hearted.'

'Hard-hearted? I think I understand.'

'Do you?'

'You mean that you like to see them live unmarried.'

Rhoda laughed merrily.

'You say that almost with resentment.'

'No--indeed--I didn't intend it.'

Monica reddened a little.

'Nothing more natural if you have done. At your age, I should have
resented it.'

'But--' the girl hesitated--'don't you approve of any one
marrying?'

'Oh, I'm not so severe! But do you know that there are half a
million more women than men in this happy country of ours?'

'Half a million!'