“In other words, what it really amounts to is this:  we are all cowards by nature, but it is possible, by cultivating the grace of self-sacrifice, so to forget ourselves in our care for others that we can rise above our natural cowardice, and become as brave or braver than men,” said Mary.

“It sounds like a sermon put that way,” Katherine replied with a laugh.  “Why don’t you take to writing books, if you can express yourself so much to the point?”

“Because, before writing books successfully, one must have lived, not merely existed, as I have done,” Mary answered a little sadly.  Then she said in a different tone; “You have done me a lot of good, and I shall sleep to-night like a top—­the first real rest I have had since that miserable morning on the rocks.”

“I shall sleep too, I hope, for I have a big day’s work to-morrow,” Katherine said, rising to go.

“Give me a kiss, dear, just to show me that you don’t despise me for being a coward, or rather for remaining a coward,” Mary said, drawing Katherine’s head down.

There was a wild desire in Katherine’s heart to push off those caressing hands, and rush away in all haste:  but she did not yield to it, realizing that this also was a time for self-forgetting; so, stooping, she kissed Mary on both cheeks.

CHAPTER XXII

A Business Offer

A fortnight slipped away.  August had come in, with lengthening nights, which sometimes had a touch of Arctic cold in them.  But it was glorious summer still, and although in those uncultivated wastes there was little harvest from the land, the harvest of the sea went merrily on.  Mary Selincourt was out and about again, limping a little at first, and leaning on a stick, but soon gaining strength enough to go about as usual; only now, made wise by experience, she took good care to avoid places of danger like the tideholes.

Since that evening of confidential talk with Katherine, Mary had honestly striven for the grace of self-forgetfulness; but the virtue is not learned in one lesson, nor yet in two, and she would probably have given up striving, through disgust at her own failures, if her pride had not been deeply stirred, and the obstinate part of her nature brought into full play.

Pleading hard work as an excuse, Katherine avoided her after that evening, from a secret dread of any more confidences.  This was easier than it otherwise would have been, owing to Mrs. Burton having taken the twins over to Fort Garry to spend a week with Mrs. M’Crawney, which left Katherine with the burden of housekeeping on her shoulders in addition to the business of the store.

Jervis Ferrars came up sometimes in the evening to sit and talk with the invalid on every subject under the sun, from lunar rainbows to earthquakes, but he got little chance of speech with Katherine, who was always feverishly busy over some task which absorbed her whole attention.