I must see to it
that _He_ is pleased, you know, at all hazards. If He does not mean
us to keep her in the shelter of our home for the present, we do not
know what He means.
"We cannot 'mother' the whole race: He has not even suggested it to our
hearts. He has simply said, 'Here, take this one; there is room for her;
keep her until I plainly tell you that her place is elsewhere.' Gracie,
would you have me tell Him we cannot?"
By this time Gracie would be humble and sweet.
"It is very good of you," she would say, meekly, "and I was not thinking
of such a thing as finding fault. I was only wondering whether--whether--
well, you know--whether such a life as she is leading in your house would
not unfit her for her proper sphere?"
But a sentence like that was always liable to put little Mrs. Roberts on
all the dignity she possessed. Her husband had ideas on that subject,
and had imbued her with them. Her voice could even sound almost haughty
as she said:--
"As to that, Gracie, we must remember that the 'sphere' of an American
woman is the one that she can fill acceptably in God's sight. He may
call her to the highest; I don't know. Since she is the daughter of a
King, there may be no spot on His footstool too high for His intentions
concerning her.
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