Nevertheless we, who are so new, must not allow ourselves to become stepping-stones. It is perfectly right.

“That is why I said this period of mourning is Laura’s protection. She will have time to know what friendships are best, and an opportunity to avoid undesirable ones. You have been away so long, David, where the class lines are not so rigidly drawn, that you forget — or never knew. It is my duty, without any foolish sentiment, to guard Laura and see to it that her coming out is what it should be. For one thing, she is so very plain. If she were a beauty, it would help, but her plainness must be compensated for in other ways. She will have a large settlement, Mr. Stretton thinks, if your uncle’s interests are not too much jeopardized in South Africa by this terrible war. That is something you