ke your future in your two
hands--just as all your many mothers have done before you.--Women have
even less right to show cowardice than men" (it was a favorite theme
with her), "because they have to be the mothers of men, and the maternal
strain is nearly always the dominant--or so Jim Thorpe says--But I don't
believe that you, at least, will ever go very far away from your
mother!"

She was thinking, of course, of Philip.

Jacqueline was rather pale. Her eyes dropped. "I'm not so sure. I've
been thinking lately--Mummy, could I possibly go to New York? I'm _so_
tired of home!"

Kate was troubled. This restlessness was the first indication she had
noticed that the affair with Channing might have left its effect. But
she said, as if the girl's wish were very natural, "To New York? That's
not impossible. It's a long time since I have been out of the State
myself, and I've been thinking for some time of taking you and Jemmy for
a trip. Suppose we go to New York, all three of us, and buy Jemmy's
trousseau? And we'll take Philip, too--it's always pleasant to have a
man about. We'll have a regular old orgy of theaters and shops and
galleries, such as I used to have sometimes with my father and mother,
years ago. Would that please you?"

"Oh, it would be wonderful! But--" the girl crimsoned, "that is not
quite what I meant, Mummy darling. When I go to New York, I want to
stay. For years."

"_Years!_ But why?"

"To study music. To begin my career."

Kate sat down in the nearest chair. Since childhood Jacqueline had been
talking at intervals about this career of hers, an ambition varying in
scope from journalism to, more latterly, the operatic stage. It was a
favorite family joke, Jacqueline's career. And here it stared her
suddenly in the face, no longer a joke. Jacqueline was in earnest.

She watched her mother's face anxiously. "I know it would be horribly
expensive, lessons and all. But we can afford to be expensive, can't
we?"

Kate's lips set. "We can, but we won't. Not in the matter of careers.
What put this into your head, my girl?"

"It's always been there, I think. But you remember Mr. Channing spoke to
you--"

"Ah, yes, Mr. Channing! I do remember; but that is hardly a
recommendation that appeals to me," said Kate, drily.

"Mr. Channing has heard all the great singers of the world, and knows
them, too." Jacqueline spoke with a firmness new to her. "And if he says
I have a voice, I have. I ought to was