“Oh, no,” answered Mrs. Graham, placidly.  “I don’t think that is likely, but it is quite reasonable that the child should be aware of some part of it by this time.  The Dyer neighbors are far from being reticent, good creatures, and they have little to remember that approaches the interest and excitement of that time.  Do you know anything about Miss Prince nowadays?  I have not heard anything of her in a long while.”

“She still sends the yearly remittance, which I acknowledge and put into the savings bank as I always have done.  When Nan came to me I advised Miss Prince that I wished to assume all care of her and should be glad if she would give me entire right to the child, but she took no notice of the request.  It really makes no practical difference.  Only,” and the doctor became much embarrassed, “I must confess that I have a notion of letting her study medicine by and by if she shows a fitness for it.”

“Dear, dear!” said the hostess, leaning forward so suddenly that she knocked two or three books from the corner of the table, and feeling very much excited.  “John Leslie, I can’t believe it! but my dear man used to say you thought twice for everybody else’s once.  What can have decided you upon such a plan?”

“How happened the judge to say that?” asked the doctor, trying to scoff, but not a little pleased.  “I’m sure I can’t tell you, Mrs. Graham, only the idea has grown of itself in my mind, as all right ideas do, and everything that I can see seems to favor it.  You may think that it is too early to decide, but I see plainly that Nan is not the sort of girl who will be likely to marry.  When a man or woman has that sort of self-dependence and unnatural self-reliance, it shows itself very early.  I believe that it is a mistake for such a woman to marry.  Nan’s feeling toward her boy-playmates is exactly the same as toward the girls she knows.  You have only to look at the rest of the children together to see the difference; and if I make sure by and by, the law of her nature is that she must live alone and work alone, I shall help her to keep it instead of break it, by providing something else than the business of housekeeping and what is called a woman’s natural work, for her activity and capacity to spend itself upon.”

“But don’t you think that a married life is happiest?” urged the listener, a good deal shocked at such treason, yet somewhat persuaded by its truth.

“Yes,” said Dr. Leslie, sadly.  “Yes indeed, for most of us.  We could say almost everything for that side, you and I; but a rule is sometimes very cruel for its exceptions; and there is a life now and then which is persuaded to put itself in irons by the force of custom and circumstances, and from the lack of bringing reason to bear upon the solving of the most important question of its existence.  Of course I don’t feel sure yet that I am right about Nan, but looking at her sad inheritance from her mother, and her good inheritances from other quarters,