Pat had got pretty well into the habit of ignoring Mrs. Binnie but that phrase “young yet” haunted her. She went to the mirror and looked dispassionately at herself. She really did not think she looked old. Her dark brown hair was as glossy as ever…her amber eyes as bright…her cheeks as smooth and rounded. Perhaps there were a few tiny lines in the corners of her eyes and…what was that? Pat leaned nearer, her eyes dilating a little. Was it…could it be…yes, it was! A gray hair!

CHAPTER 42

Pat went up to the Long House that night. She walked blithely and springily. She was not going to worry over that gray hair. She would not even pull it out. The Selbys all turned gray young. What did it matter? She would not grow old in heart, no matter what she did in head. She would always keep her banner of youth flying gallantly. Wrinkles might come on her face but there should never be any on her soul. And yet there had been a moment that day when Pat had felt as if she didn’t want to be young any longer. Things hurt you too much when you were young. Surely they wouldn’t hurt so much when you got old. You wouldn’t care so much then…things would be settled…there wouldn’t be so many changes. People you knew wouldn’t always be running off to far lands…or getting married. Your hair would be all gray and it wouldn’t matter. You wouldn’t be eating your heart out longing for a lost paradise.