moved. She was tired and felt lonely and that life was hard. Instinctive
longings that she had fought against awoke. She wanted somebody to
shelter her and brush her troubles away. Mabel had her husband, whom she
loved; but she had chosen a rocky path that she must walk alone.

"I hope Jake is getting on well in British Columbia," she said. "I
suppose you hear from him?"

"He writes to us regularly and is getting on very well. Finds his work
absorbing and sees a chance of promotion, but it's obvious that he's not
satisfied. I don't know if you feel flattered, but he can't forget you."

Agatha stopped her. Jake was Mrs. Farnam's cousin, and had been a
teacher of science until he got a post at a mine. He had helped Agatha
in her studies, and she blamed herself for imagining that common
interests and ambitions accounted for their friendship. In fact, it was
something of a shock when, on getting his new post, Jake had asked her
to marry him.

"I'm not flattered but sorry," she replied. "I liked Jake very much--one
was forced to like him--but after all that doesn't go far enough. And,
you see, I didn't know--"

"I believe you really didn't know. It would be ridiculous to admit this
about any other girl, but, in a way, you're not quite normal. You're too
absorbed in your occupation and haven't a woman's natural feelings. You
took all Jake had to give and were surprised and half indignant when he
asked something from you."

Agatha wondered rather drearily whether Mrs. Farnam's reproaches were