old ladies opposite； the Misses Williams； were both engaged； you would
not have surprised me more。 It is really too funny。〃
〃Funny； Ida！ Think of any one taking the place of dear mother。
But her sister was of a more practical and less sentimental nature。 〃I
am sure；〃 said she； 〃that dear mother would like papa to do whatever
would make him most happy。 We shall both be away； and why should
papa not please himself？〃
〃But think how unhappy he will be。 You know how quiet he is in his
ways； and how even a little thing will upset him。 How could he live with
a wife who would make his whole life a series of surprises？ Fancy what
a whirlwind she must be in a house。 A man at his age cannot change his
ways。 I am sure he would be miserable。〃
Ida's face grew graver； and she pondered over the matter for a few
minutes。 〃I really think that you are right as usual；〃 said she at last。 〃I
admire Charlie's aunt very much； you know； and I think that she is a very
useful and good person； but I don't think she would do as a wife for poor
quiet papa。〃
〃But he will certainly ask her； and I really think that she intends to
accept him。 Then it would be too late to interfere。 We have only a few
days at the most。 And what can we do？ How can we hope to make him
change his mind？〃
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
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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。〃
〃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
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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。
〃Not a bit。 It is to save him。〃
〃I should not dare。〃
〃Oh； yes； you would。 Harold will help。 Besides； what other plan
have you？〃
〃I have none。〃
〃Then you must take mine。〃
〃Yes。 Perhaps you are right。 Well； we do it for a good motive。
〃You will do it？〃
〃I do not see any other way。〃
〃You dear good Clara！ Now I will show you what you are to do。
We must not begin too suddenly。 It might excite suspicion。〃
〃What would you do； then？〃
〃To…morrow we must go to Mrs。 Westmacott； and sit at her feet and
learn all her views。〃
〃What hypocrites we shall feel！〃
〃We shall be her newest and most enthusiastic converts。 Oh； it will
be such fun； Clara！ Then we shall make our plans and send for what we
want； and begin our new life。〃
〃I do hope that we shall not have to keep it up long。 It seems so cruel
to dear papa。
〃Cruel！ To save him！〃
〃I wish I was sure that we were doing right。 And yet what else can
we do？ Well； then； Ida； the die is cast； and we will call upon Mrs。
Westmacott tomorrow。
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CHAPTER IX。
A FAMILY PLOT。
Little did poor Doctor Walker imagine as he sat at his breakfast…table
next morning that the two sweet girls who sat on either side of him were
deep in a conspiracy； and that he； munching innocently at his muffins； was
the victim against whom their wiles were planned。 Patiently they waited
until at last their opening came。
〃It is a beautiful day；〃 he remarked。 〃It will do for Mrs。 Westmacott。
She was thinking of having a spin upon the tricycle。〃
〃Then we must call early。 We both intended to see her after
breakfast。〃
〃Oh； indeed！〃 The Doctor looked pleased。
〃You know； pa；〃 said Ida； 〃it seems to us that we really have a very
great advantage in having Mrs。 Westmacott living so near。〃
〃Why so； dear？〃
〃Well； because she is so advanced； you know。 If we only study her
ways we may advance ourselves also。〃
〃I think I have heard you say； papa；〃 Clara remarked； 〃that she is the
type of the woman of the future。〃
〃I am very pleased to hear you speak so sensibly； my dears。 I
certainly think that she is a woman whom you may very well take as your
model。 The more intimate you are with her the better pleased I shall be。〃
〃Then that is settled；〃 said Clara demurely； and the talk drifted to other
matters。
All the morning the two girls sat extracting from Mrs。 Westmacott her
most extreme view as to the duty of the one sex and the tyranny of the
other。 Absolute equality； even in details； was her ideal。 Enough of the
parrot cry of unwomanly and unmaidenly。 It had been invented by man
to scare woman away when she poached too nearly upon his precious
preserves。 Every woman should be independent。 Every woman should
learn a trade。 It was their duty to push in where they were least welcome。
Then they were martyrs to the cause； and pioneers to their weaker sisters。
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Why should the wash…tub； the needle； and the housekeeper's book be
eternally theirs？ Might they not reach higher； to the consulting…room； to
the bench； and even to the pulpit？ Mrs。 Westmacott sacrificed her
tricycle ride in her eagerness over her pet subject； and her two fair
disciples drank in every word； and noted every suggestion for future use。
That afternoon they went shopping in London； and before evening strange
packages began to be handed in at the Doctor's door。 The plot was ripe
for execution； and one of the conspirators was merry and jubilant； while
the other was very nervous and troubled。
When the Doctor came down to the dining…room next morning； he was
surprised to find that his daughters had already been up some time。 Ida
was installed at one end of the table with a spirit…lamp； a curved glass
flask； and several bottles in front of her。 The contents of the flask were
boiling furiously； while a villainous smell filled the room。 Clara lounged
in an arm…chair with her feet upon a second one； a blue…covered book in
her hand； and a huge map of the British Islands spread across her lap。
〃Hullo！〃 cried the Doctor； blinking and sniffing； 〃where's the breakfast？〃
〃Oh； didn't you order it？〃 asked Ida。
〃I！ No； why should I？〃 He rang the bell。 〃Why have you not laid
the breakfast； Jane？〃
〃If you please； sir； Miss Ida was a workin' at the table。〃
〃Oh； of course； Jane；〃 said the young lady calmly。 〃I am so sorry。 I
shall be ready to move in a few minutes。〃
〃But what on earth are you doing； Ida？〃 asked the Doctor。 〃The
smell is most offensive。 And； good gracious； look at the mess which you
have made upon the cloth！
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