But, as far as Priscilla could see, blessed were they who were not called upon to assist in the scheme.

To her eyes all days seemed to be days of wrath, and all times, times of tribulation.

And it was all mere vanity and vexation of spirit.

To go on and bear it till one was dead,--helping others to bear it, if such help might be of avail,--that was her theory of life.

To make it pleasant by eating, and drinking, and dancing, or even by falling in love, was, to her mind, a vain crunching of ashes between the teeth.