She
had never walked in life's sunny places; it had always been the
valley of the shadow for her. She was surrounded by puzzles with
never any answer to one of them, but if only she had comprehended the
truth, it was these very puzzles that were her salvation. While her
feeble mind stirred, while it wondered, brooded, suffered,--enough it
did all these too seldom,--it kept itself alive, even if the life
were only like the flickering of a candle. And now the candle might
flicker, but it should never go out altogether, if half a dozen pairs
of women's hands could keep it from extinction; and how patiently
they were outstretched to shield the poor apology for a flame, and
coax it into burning more brightly!
'Let the child choose her own special teacher,' said Mistress Mary;
'she is sure to have a strong preference.'
'Then it will be you,' laughed Helen.
'Don't be foolish; it may be any one of us and it will prove nothing
in any case, save a fancy that we can direct to good use. She seldom
looks at anybody but you,' said Edith.
'That is true,' replied Mary thoughtfully. 'I think she is attracted
by this glittering steel thing in my hair. I am going to weave it
into Helen's curly crop some day, and see whether she misses it or
transfers her affection.
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