"
"Very poor comfort if we consider that we live but once."
"Twice when one has children; three times if one lives to see one's
grandchildren."
"And after that, the end."
"Unless there is a life after death."
"We cannot be sure of that! Who knows? I believe it, but my faith is
no proof."
"But it is good to believe it. Let us have faith! Let us believe that
spring will come again! Let us believe it!"
"Yes, let us believe it," he said, gathering her to his breast.
COMPULSORY MARRIAGE
His father died early and from that time forth he was in the hands of
a mother, two sisters and several aunts. He had no brother. They lived
on an estate in the Swedish province, Soedermanland, and had no
neighbours with whom they _could be_ on friendly terms. When he was
seven years old, a governess was engaged to teach him and his sisters,
and about the same time a girl cousin came to live with them.
He shared his sisters' bedroom, played their games and went bathing
with them; nobody looked upon him as a member of the other sex. Before
long his sisters took him in hand and became his schoolmasters and
tyrants.
He was a strong boy to start with, but left to the mercy of so many
doting women, he gradually became a helpless molly-coddle.
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