Again Ida pondered. "He has never tried what it is to live with a

strong-minded woman," said she. "If we could only get him to realize

it in time. Oh, Clara, I have it; I have it! Such a lovely plan!" She

leaned back in her chair and burst into a fit of laughter so natural and

so hearty that Clara had to forget her troubles and to join in it.

"Oh, it is beautiful!" she gasped at last. "Poor papa! What a time he

will have! But it's all for his own good, as he used to say when we

had to be punished when we were little. Oh, Clara, I do hope your heart

won't fail you."

"I would do anything to save him, dear."

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"That's it. You must steel yourself by that thought."

"But what is your plan?"

"Oh, I am so proud of it. We will tire him for ever of the widow, and

of all emancipated women. Let me see, what are Mrs. Westmacott's main

ideas? You have listened to her more than I. Women should attend less to

household duties. That is one, is it not?"

"Yes, if they feel they have capabilities for higher things. Then she

thinks that every woman who has leisure should take up the study of

some branch of science, and that, as far as possible, every woman should

qualify herself for some trade or profession, choosing for preference

those which have been hitherto monopolized by men. To enter the others

would only be to intensify the present competition."

"Quite so. That is glorious!" Her blue eyes were dancing with mischief,

and she clapped her hands in her delight. "What else? She thinks that

whatever a man can do a woman should be allowed to do also--does she

not?"

"She says so."

"And about dress? The short skirt, and the divided skirt are what she

believes in?"

"Yes."

"We must get in some cloth."

"Why?"

"We must make ourselves a dress each. A brand-new, enfranchised,

emancipated dress, dear. Don't you see my plan? We shall act up to all

Mrs. Westmacott's views in every respect, and improve them when we can.

Then papa will know what it is to live with a woman who claims all her

rights. Oh, Clara, it will be splendid."

Her milder sister sat speechless before so daring a scheme. "But it

would be wrong, Ida!" she cried at last.




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