She saw a floor immaculately clean.

She spoke after a time ending a silence which was unusual with her.
"The latter title that you gave me, Mrs.Gage, is correct," said she.
"I am a widow, having never encountered the oppor-r-r-tunity but once." It was worth going miles out of one's way to hear her say "opportunity"-- or to see her wide-mouthed smile.
"As a widow," she resumed with orotundity not lessened by her absence from her own accustomed dais, "as a widow yourself, you are arranged here with a fair degree of comfort, as I am disposed to believe, Mrs.
Gage." "I cannot complain," said Mary Gage simply.
"A great trait in life, my dear madam; resignation! I endeavor to inculcate in my pupils the virtue of stoicism.

I tell them of the Spartan boy, Mrs.Gage.

Perhaps you have heard of the Spartan boy ?" "Yes," said Mary.

"I know something about stoicism, I hope.