Please do not make the matter a burden." She did not say this with any invitation to courteous protest on my part, but rather with a cold frankness--for which, I confess, I always admired her.

I said now: "Mrs.Falchion, you have suggested what might easily be possible in the circumstances, but I candidly admit that I have never yet found your presence disagreeable; and I suppose that is a comment upon my weakness.

Though, to speak again with absolute truth, I think I do not like you at this present." "Yes, I fancy I can understand that," she said.

"I can understand how, for instance, one might feel a just and great resentment, and have in one's hand the instrument of punishment, and yet withhold one's hand and protect where one should injure." At this moment these words had no particular significance to me, but there chanced a time when they came home with great force.

I think, indeed, that she was speaking more to herself than to me.