"
"You were not very different, my dear," said Grandmother, in her gentle
way, "from many girls of this day."
"Forgive me, dear," responded Rhodora, "but I was so much worse that
only a grandmother like you could have shown me what I was."
"I never tried to show you what you were," said Grandmother. "Only what
you could be. And now--I must lose you."
The Preacher came up, the Skeptic by his side. The Philosopher and
Hepatica, seeing the old magic circle forming, promptly added
themselves.
It fell out, presently, that the Philosopher and I, a step away from the
others, were observing them as we talked together. The Philosopher had
adjusted his eyeglasses, having carefully polished them. He seemed to
want to see things clearly to-day.
"This is a scene I've witnessed a good many times, first and last," said
he. "Each time it impresses me afresh with the daring of the
participants. Brave young things, setting sail upon a mighty ocean, in a
small boat, which may or may not be seaworthy--some of them, it seems,
sometimes, with neither chart nor compass--certainly with little
knowledge of the crew.
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