Oh, if I were a man, wouldn't I just go out into the world!" "Well, Lockhaven can scarcely be called the world," Gifford answered in his slow way.
"But I should think you would want to go because it will be such a pleasure to Helen to have you there," she said.
Gifford smiled; he had twisted his braid of grass into a ring, and had pushed it on the smallest of his big fingers, and was turning it thoughtfully about.

"I don't believe," he said, "that it will make the slightest difference to Helen whether I am there or not.

She has Mr.
Ward." "Oh," Lois said, "I hardly think even Mr.Ward can take the place of father, and the rectory, and me.

I know it will make Helen happier to have somebody from home near her." "No," the young man said, with a quiet persistence, "it won't make the slightest difference, Lois.

She'll have the person she loves best in the world; and with the person one loves best one could be content in the desert of Sahara." "You seem to have a very high opinion of John Ward," Lois said, a thread of anger in her voice.
"I have," said Gifford; "but that isn't what I mean.