Was I right?

by Mrs. O. F. Walton

"So Alice is married, poor girl!" she said. "I had forgotten that it was to be so soon."

"Why do you call her poor, Evelyn?" I asked. "Most people would say happy girl."

"Oh, I don't know," said Evelyn, "perhaps I ought not to have said so. Mr. Ellis is a great friend of yours, I know; but, somehow, I do not think I should like to marry him myself; now would you, May?"

"No," I said, very decidedly, "not at all."

We went on with our work without speaking for some time, and then Evelyn asked:

"May, do you remember what Alice Fitzgerald said about laughing trouble away?"

"Yes," I said, "quite well."

"I don't at all agree with her," said Evelyn; "I can't laugh when I am in trouble, it would be of no use trying. I could not laugh to-day—if I tried to laugh, I should begin to cry directly."

"And even if you could laugh, Evelyn dear," I said, "the trouble would come back again the next moment heavier than ever."

"Oh, May," said Evelyn, suddenly, "I wish I could do the other thing."