’But thirty-eight is not old,’ said Challis, so eager to comfort, she left truth to take care of itself. ’Think what lots of people are fifty, and they don’t think themselves a bit old.’
’But who will marry you after you are thirty-eight?’ said poor Miss Browne, unable to keep any ache back to-night.
’Oh,’ said Challis, ’lots of people don’t get married, and they are as happy as anything.’
’If I had been asked,’ she said, ’then I should not mind so much. But I am—thirty-eight, and no one has—ever asked me.’
Challis put her arm round the poor woman’s neck; she stroked her cheek, patted her shoulder.
’Of course,’ Miss Browne said at last, sitting up with tremulous, red-eyed dignity, ’there is no need to tell Hermie that, my love.’
’But you must have lots of friends,’ said Challis, looking at the number of envelopes lying on the dressing-table. The colour ran up into Miss Browne’s face. She half put her hand over the letters, then drew it back.
’If I told you about these, you would think me so foolish, my dear,’ she faltered.
’Oh no, I wouldn’t!’ said Challis. ’Now I know you so well, I seem to understand everything.’
Miss Browne got some little papers out of a drawer, English penny weeklies devoted to ’ladies’ interests.’ She turned to the Answers to Correspondents pages, ’Advice on Courtship and Marriage.’
’Those marked with a little cross are the answers to me,’ whispered Miss Browne. And Challis read these three marked paragraphs:
’_Fair Australienne_ writes: "I am the only daughter of a very wealthy squatter, and have two lovers. One is a squatter on an adjoining station, the other an English baronet travelling in Australia. If I marry the baronet, I must leave my father, who loves me dearly; but I care for him more than I do for the squatter. What would you advise me to do?"
And the ’Aunt Lucy’ who conducted the page had replied:
’Marry where your heart dictates. Could you not induce your father to live in England with you?’
’_Sweet Rock Lily_.—"I am eighteen, and, my friends tell me, very, very beautiful. I am governess in a wealthy family, and the son is deeply in love with me. If he marries me, he will be disinherited. What should I do? I love him very much. And will you tell me a remedy for thin hair?"