But while he called himself an old fogy and other impolite names he was conscious of a grave and sweet desire to make the child’s life a successful one,—­to bring out what was in her own mind and capacity, and so to wisely educate her, to give her a place to work in, and wisdom to work with, so far as he could; for he knew better than most men that it is the people who can do nothing who find nothing to do, and the secret of happiness in this world is not only to be useful, but to be forever elevating one’s uses.  Some one must be intelligent for a child until it is ready to be intelligent for itself, and he told himself with new decision that he must be wise in his laws for Nan and make her keep them, else she never would be under the grace of any of her own.

XI

NEW OUTLOOKS

Dr. Leslie held too securely the affection of his townspeople to be in danger of losing their regard or respect, yet he would have been half pained and half amused if he had known how foolishly his plans, which came in time to be his ward’s also, were smiled and frowned upon in the Oldfields houses.  Conformity is the inspiration of much second-rate virtue.  If we keep near a certain humble level of morality and achievement, our neighbors are willing to let us slip through life unchallenged.  Those who anticipate the opinions and decisions of society must expect to be found guilty of many sins.

There was not one of the young village people so well known as the doctor’s little girl, who drove with him day by day, and with whom he kept such delightful and trustful companionship.  If she had been asked in later years what had decided her to study not only her profession, but any profession, it would have been hard for her to answer anything beside the truth that the belief in it had grown with herself.  There had been many reasons why it seemed unnecessary.  There was every prospect that she would be rich enough to place her beyond the necessity of self-support.  She could have found occupation in simply keeping the doctor’s house and being a cordial hostess in that home and a welcome guest in other people’s.  She was already welcome everywhere in Oldfields, but in spite of this, which would have seemed to fill the hearts and lives of other girls, it seemed to her like a fragment of her life and duty; and when she had ordered her housekeeping and her social duties, there was a restless readiness for a more absorbing duty and industry; and, as the years went by, all her desire tended in one direction.  The one thing she cared most to learn increased its attraction continually, and though one might think the purpose of her guardian had had its influence and moulded her character by its persistence, the truth was that the wise doctor simply followed as best he could the leadings of the young nature itself, and so the girl grew naturally year by year, reaching out half unconsciously for