For the moment, perhaps, her own appeared hard.

But she had hope, and she was young.

She knew nothing of the years and years that had had to be lived through before those kind eyes looked as clear and cloudless as now; before the voice had gained the sweet evenness of tone which she liked to listen to, and felt that it made her quiet and "good," almost like Johanna's.
"You see, my dear," said Miss Balquidder, "when one has no duties, one must just make them; when we have nobody to care for us, we must take to caring for every body.

I suppose"-- here a slight pause indicated that this life, like all women's lives, had had its tale, now long, long told--"I suppose I was not meant to be a wife; but I am quite certain I was meant to be a mother.

And"-- with her peculiar, bright, humorous look--"you'd be astonished, Miss Leaf, if you knew what lots of 'children' I have in all parts of the world." Miss Balquidder then went on to explain, that finding, from her own experience, how great was the number, and how sore the trial of young women who nowadays are obliged to work--obliged to forget that there is such a thing as the blessed privilege of being worked for--she had set herself, in her small way, to try and help them.