The elder woman turned a little pale, and looked down in silent anxiety at the darkly beautiful head that rested on her shoulder.
"After such an experience as mine has been," said Stella, "would you think it possible that I could ever again feel my heart troubled by a man--and that man a stranger ?" "My dear! I think it quite possible.

You are only now in your twenty-third year.

You were innocent of all blame at that wretched by-gone time which you ought never to speak of again.

Love and be happy, Stella--if you can only find the man who is worthy of you.

But you frighten me when you speak of a stranger.