I’m aching for you now, for the trouble you have already to bear. Is there anything that I can do to help in any way? I have a feeling there is something I should be doing, but I can’t seem to think what it is!”

Gloria spoke in her gentle wistful voice out from under the crushing blow that had fallen upon her. There were tears in Vanna’s eyes, but there were no tears in Gloria’s eyes. There was hard, agonizing comprehension in Nance’s face, but Gloria kept that stricken smile on her lips and offered to help. The other two girls watched her, uncomprehending.

“You’re a strange girl, Glory!” said Nance at last. “I can see you are making this thing a lot harder for yourself than it has any need to be, a lot harder than it really is. Stan was just a carefree boy. You never thought he was an angel, did you? Yet you are taking it further even than death. You are taking the blow at your spirit instead of just your life. And you don’t need to do that. It’s hard enough just on the surface, goodness knows! Why should you want to go further? You can’t live in your spirit that way on earth. You just can’t. You’d die if you tried to. It isn’t being done!”

“I’ve just been finding out that I can’t live if my spirit isn’t satisfied!” said Gloria, giving her a strange, startled look. “That’s why I don’t know just how I’m going to bear it!”

Nance suddenly gave a great, deep, awful sob. “Oh, this is awful! It makes one feel as if there ought to be a God!” said Nance.

“I wonder if that could make any difference,” said Gloria with a longing look.

“Oh, Glory,” cried Vanna, “don’t talk such awful things! If Dad should hear you what would he think? If you only would sit down and cry as you always do when you feel bad, I am sure it would help you.”

“But this isn’t just feeling bad, Vanna. And I can’t cry. I think I’m bleeding inside. And I’m seeing so many things I never understood before!”

“Sit down, Glory dear, sit down,” said Vanna. “I’m sure you oughtn’t to be standing up. It takes your strength.” She gave a frightened look at Nance.

“Yes, sit down, it takes your strength,” said Nance, turning troubled eyes toward Gloria. “Can’t you get her something to drink, Vanna? It’s the shock. She isn’t quite herself.”

Gloria dropped into a chair with a wan smile. “Oh, yes, I’m myself, quite, Nance dear. Don’t get that idea,” she said quietly. “I’ve plenty of strength. You needn’t worry about my strength. This isn’t anything that has to do with strength. It’s something that’s way deeper than that. Strength is just your body.