Hitherto she had leaned with tender confidence on her parents, and walked the paths lovingly where they led the way.

Now she was moving, with unaided footsteps, along a new and rugged road, that led she knew not whither; for clouds and darkness were in the forward distance.

At every step, she found a new strength and a new power of endurance growing up in her young spirit.

Thought, too, was becoming clearer and stronger.

The mature woman had suddenly taken the place of the shrinking girl..