plans.  When I was a young woman it was a most blessed discovery to me—­though I was not any quicker at making it than other people, perhaps,—­that, beside being happy myself and valuable to myself, I must fit myself into my place in society.  We are seldom left to work alone, you know.  No, not even you.  I know too much about you to believe that.  And it isn’t enough that we are willing to talk about ourselves.  We must learn to understand the subjects of the day that everybody talks about, and to make sure of a right to stand upon the highest common ground wherever we are.  Society is a sort of close corporation, and we must know its watchwords, and keep an interest in its interests and affairs.  I call a gentleman the man who, either by birth or by nature, belongs to the best society.  There may be bad gentlemen and good gentlemen, but one must feel instinctively at home with a certain class, representatives of which are likely to be found everywhere.

“And as for Nan, you will be disappointed if she does not understand a little later your own way of looking at things.  She mustn’t grow up full of whims and indifferences.  I am too fond of you to look forward calmly to your being disappointed, and I do believe she will be a most lovely, daughterly, friendly girl, who will keep you from being lonely as you grow older, and be a great blessing in every way.  Yet she has a strange history, and is in a strange position.  I hope you will find a good school for her before very long.”

This was said after a moment’s pause, and with considerable hesitation, and Mrs. Graham was grateful for the gathering darkness which sheltered her, and not a little surprised at the doctor’s answer.

“I have been thinking of that,” he said quickly, “but it is a great puzzle at present and I am thankful to say, I think it is quite safe to wait a year or two yet.  You and I live so much apart from society that we idealize it a good deal, though you are a stray-away bit of it.  We too seldom see the ideal gentleman or lady; we have to be contented with keeping the ideal in our minds, it seems to me, and saying that this man is gentlemanly, and that woman ladylike.  But I do believe in aiming at the best things, and turning this young creature’s good instincts and uncommon powers into the proper channels instead of letting her become singular and self-centred because she does not know enough of people of her own sort.”

Mrs. Graham gave a little sound of approval that did not stand for any word in particular:  “I wonder if her father’s people will ever make any claim to her?  She said something about her aunt one day; I think it was to hear whatever I might answer.  It seemed to me that the poor child had more pleasure in this unknown possession than was worth while; she appeared to think of her as a sort of fairy godmother who might descend in Oldfields at any moment.”

“I did not know she thought of her at all,” announced the doctor, somewhat dismayed.  “She never has talked about her aunt to me.  I dare say that she has been entertained with the whole miserable story.”