Her Reputation by Talbot Mundy

Women suffer more than men. For millions of years they have undergone the agony, while men provided it. Capacity to suffer is inherent in the whole sex, and to recover and forget in the joy of having brought forth. But where was joy for Jacqueline Lanier? What had she brought forth but disillusion?

She lay on the bed in Consuelo's room during uncounted hours, eating when Consuelo told her to, not knowing what she ate, not caring what should happen, not even trying to escape one pang of grief; for she hoped the grief would kill her. She did not cry any longer; there was nothing left to cry about. She did not pray; there was nothing to pray for. When Consuelo knelt and prayed before the image of the Virgin on the little table in the corner, she watched and wondered dumbly what was the use.