Erica was not at all given to tears, but there was now a sort of
choking in her throat, and a sort of dimness in her eyes which made
her rather hurriedly settle down on the floor in her own particular
nook beside her mother's couch, where her face could not be seen.
There was a silence. Presently the mother spoke, stroking back the
wavy, auburn hair with her thin white hand.

"For a long time I have dreaded this for you, Erica. I was afraid
you didn't realize the sort of position the world will give you.
Till lately you have seen scarcely any but our own people, but it
can hardly be, darling, that you can go on much longer without
coming into contact with others; and then, more and more, you must
realize that you are cut off from much that other girls may
enjoy."

"Why?" questioned Erica. "Why can't they be friendly? Why must
they cut us off from everything?"

"It does seem unjust; but you must remember that we belong to an
unpopular minority."

"But if I belonged to the larger party, I would at least be just to
the smaller," said Erica. "How can they expect us to think their
system beautiful when the very first thing they show us is hatred
and meanness. Oh! If I belonged to the other side I would show
them how different it might be."

"I believe you would," said the mother, smiling a little at the
idea, and at the vehemence of the speaker. "But, as it is, Erica,
I am afraid you must school yourself to endure. After all, I fancy