home. But she has no right to promise without thinking it all
over, whether she can sacrifice and work, can suffer hardship and
even wrong for her husband's sake. Those are solemn words, dear,
and should never be spoken thoughtlessly: 'For better for worse,
for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health--'"

"You make it all mean so much more than mamma did," said Katharine
thoughtfully. "She never talked to me like this. You make me half
afraid of it, auntie."

"So much the better," her aunt replied. "It isn't anything that
you can do one day, and undo the next; but it is a matter of life--
and death," she added, as if to herself. Then she went on, with
an entire change of tone, "Now, Kit, we have been talking about a
very serious matter, and I am nearly through. But we may never
speak of it again, so before we leave it, I want to just say that
I wish you could put this whole subject out of your head for
years, until the great question comes to you,--better still, if it
had never been put into your head in the first place. However,
that mischief is done. Still, try as hard as you can, for this
year at least, to forget all about it. Then, if you must remember
it at all, remember it as we have spoken of it, a serious question
which must be settled between you and your conscience. In the
meantime, do the very best you can to develop yourself into a
helpful woman, ready for any call that may come. Your call will
come, in one way or another, and all you have to do is to be
prepared to answer 'ready.' And the grand secret of this
preparation lies in perfect unconsciousness of self. It is all
hidden in you, Kit, if you only try to make the most of it. And
now I shouldn't at all wonder if we were better friends than ever