"We ought all to keep in our own places, my dear," she would say. "It pleases Heaven that we shall be born in a certain state of life. If Heaven intended we should fill any other, there is no doubt we should have been born in that state. We ought not to try and change these things. We are not in our own hands, but in the hands of those above. If a king is wanted, one is sent; if a lord is wanted, one is sent; and so on. And we ought not to try and alter these laws of Nature any more than any other laws of Nature."
Upon being reminded that great generals and lawyers and statesmen are often made lords of, she would say:
"These, my dear, were intended by Nature to be lords, but there was no vacancy for them at the time. But you see, in the end, Nature found a vacancy, and they became lords. If a man is intended by Nature to be a lord, nothing in the world will keep him from being one."
The morning after the wreck of the yacht Seabird, Miss Traynor was later than usual for breakfast. She came down looking white and worn. She had been more sleepless than usual that night. But on mornings after such nights she was more gentle and considerate than at other times.
"How are you this morning, Marion?" she asked as she kissed the girl and sank into her elbow-chair.
"Pretty well, aunt, only I slept badly. How are you? You look as if you had had one of your bad nights," said Marion, as she began pouring out the tea.
"So I had, my child, so I had. I heard every hour till four; and I did not go to sleep even soon after that. What kept you awake?"
"Oh, I don't know, aunt," said the girl wearily.
"Well, if you don't know, I do, Marion; and you are a little goose to fret about the matter. I know him, dear, better than you do."
Marion smiled. As though anyone, or all the world together, could know her Charlie as she knew him.