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would be unendurable as a life companion。 She had come to an age
when habits are not lightly to be changed； nor was she a woman who was
at all likely to attempt to change them。 How would a sensitive man like
her father stand the constant strain of such a wife； a woman who was all
decision； with no softness； and nothing soothing in her nature？ It passed
as a mere eccentricity when they heard of her stout drinking； her cigarette
smoking； her occasional whiffs at a long clay pipe； her horsewhipping of a
drunken servant； and her companionship with the snake Eliza； whom she
was in the habit of bearing about in her pocket。 All this would become
unendurable to her father when his first infatuation was past。 For his
own sake； then； as well as for her mother's memory； this match must be
prevented。 And yet how powerless she was to prevent it！ What could
she do？ Could Harold aid her？ Perhaps。 Or Ida？ At least she would
tell her sister and see what she could suggest。
Ida was in her boudoir； a tiny little tapestried room； as neat and dainty
as herself； with low walls hung with Imari plaques and with pretty little
Swiss brackets bearing blue Kaga ware； or the pure white Coalport china。
In a low chair beneath a red shaded standing lamp sat Ida； in a diaphanous
evening dress of mousseline de soie； the ruddy light tinging her sweet
childlike face； and glowing on her golden curls。 She sprang up as her
sister entered； and threw her arms around her。
〃Dear old Clara！ Come and sit down here beside me。 I have not
had a chat for days。 But； oh； what a troubled face！ What is it then？〃
She put up her forefinger and smoothed her sister's brow with it。
Clara pulled up a stool； and sitting down beside her sister； passed her
arm round her waist。 〃I am so sorry to trouble you； dear Ida；〃 she said。
〃But I do not know what to do。
〃There's nothing the matter with Harold？〃
〃Oh； no； Ida。〃
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〃Nor with my Charles？〃
〃No； no。〃
Ida gave a sigh of relief。 〃You quite frightened me； dear；〃 said she。
〃You can't think how solemn you look。 What is it； then？〃
〃I believe that papa intends to ask Mrs。 Westmacott to marry him。〃
Ida burst out laughing。 〃What can have put such a notion into your
head； Clara？〃
〃It is only too true； Ida。 I suspected it before； and he himself almost
told me as much with his own lips to…night。 I don't think that it is a
laughing matter。〃
〃Really； I could not help it。 If you had told me that those two dear
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