"'But parting is such pain,' I pleaded.
"'Pain does not last forever.'
"'Oh, it will; it must!' I cried out, in a passionate protest.
"The man smiled, and shook his head, sadly enough.
"'It seems so now; but you will know more of the world some day, and learn to cast deep feeling from you. It is a sad drawback in life.'
"'And you have learned this lesson?' I asked, half in tears, half angrily.
"He paused a moment, made a gesture as if he were casting some great restraint upon himself, and then answered:
"'Yes, I have learned the lesson. So must you.'
"'But I can not. God made me as I am. It is my nature to feel and suffer keenly.'
"'I think so. Yet in a little time how all this may change!'