"You must be content with mine," he answered. "David lets you into his good fortune and tells you when he’s drawn a prize. But the bother and battle he keeps to himself." "He doesn’t," she answered. "I’d forgive that. But he tells Rhoda. Again and again I’ve known them to break off a subject when I came along--as if I was a baby." "Try to think ’tis out of their kindness they do it." "I have tried; but I know different. David don’t believe in me--that’s the bitterness of my life in a word, Hartley. He don’t trust me like he trusts Rhoda." "Then tell him so. Let him see what he’s losing by keeping you out. And I believe, come to think of it, that might be good advice to myself too. With Rhoda I mean. How would it be if I took a bit of counsel with her, Madge--asked her advice, like David does, and treated her like a man instead of a girl? Would that work?" She considered. "It would work, no doubt, as far as her being civil went. If you asked her questions, she’d answer ’em; and if you asked her opinion she’d give it. Whether ’twould lead to anything further, I can’t tell. We’ve drifted apart a bit of late, and I see it clear enough without seeing the reason for it. However, I daresay I’m to blame too. No doubt I don’t look at life from their point of view all I might. But I wish--I wish to God she’d take you--as much for my sake as her own." The woman’s unusual bitterness impressed him. "Follow my advice and have a good talk with David. Thresh it out and open his eyes a bit. If you see from his point of view, as you will now, then ’tis but fair he should see from yours; and if he can’t see your side single-handed, then you must help him. We’ll meet again afore long and I’ll tell you what comes of my new idea. Perhaps we shall both be lucky!" He left her and she returned to her mother. Mrs. Stanbury was absorbed in the dreadful new problems raised by Bartley Crocker’s theory of the voice. She explained these complications to Margaret, and her daughter strove to comfort her without success. *CHAPTER V* *END OF A ROMANCE*