separated life; by that I mean that I should never know the joy of
wifehood or motherhood, that I must create my own little world, my
own joys and interests."

"And you have done so."

"Yes, I have done so; I am a believer in happiness; I am quite sure
in my mind that our beneficent Creator meant all His creatures to be
happy, that whatever He gives them to bear, that He intends them to
abide in the sunshine of His peace, and I determined to be happy. I
surrounded my-self with pretty things, with pictures that were
pleasant to the eye and recalled bright thoughts. I made my books my
friends, and held sweet satisfying communion with minds of all ages.
I cultivated music, and found intense enjoyment in the study of
Handel and Beethoven.

"When I got a little stronger I determined to be a worker too, and
glean a little sheaf or two after the reapers, if it were only a
dropped ear now and then.

"I took up the Senana Mission. You have no idea how important I have
grown, or what a vast correspondence I have kept up--the society
begin to find me quite useful to them--and I have dear unknown
correspondents whom I love as old friends, and whose faces I shall
only see, perhaps, when we meet in heaven.

"When dear Florence died--that was my sister-in-law, you know--I
came to live with Giles, and to look after Flurry. I am quite a
responsible woman, having charge of the household, and trying to be a
companion to Giles; confess now, Esther, it is not such a useless