ked Mrs. Jardine.

Kate sat staring across the blue lake with wide eyes, a queer smile
twisting her lips. At last she said slowly: "Well, then, my sunbonnet
is in my trunk. I'm not so far away from it but that it still travels
with me. It's blue chambray, made from pieces left from my first
pretty dress. It is ruffled, and has white stitching. I made it
myself. The head that it fits is another matter. I didn't make that,
or its environment, or what was taught it, until it was of age, and had
worked out its legal time of service to pay for having been a head at
all. But my head is now free, in my own possession, ready to go as
fast and far on the path of life as it develops the brains to carry it.
You'd smile if I should tell you what I'd ask of life, if I could have
what I want."

"I scarcely think so. Please tell me."

"You'll be shocked," warned Kate.

"Just so it isn't enough to set my heart rocking again," said Mrs.
Jardine.

"We'll stop before that," laughed Kate. "Then if you will have it, I
want of life by the time I am twenty a man of my stature, dark eyes and
hair, because I am so light. I want him to be honest, forceful, hard
working, with a few drops of the milk of human kindness in his heart,
and the same ambitions I have."

"And what ARE your ambitions?" asked Mrs. Jardine.

"To own, and to cultivate, and to bring to the highest state of
efficiency at least two hundred acres of land, with convenient and
attractive buildings and pedigreed stock, and to mother at least twelve
perfect physical and mental boys and girls."

"Oh, my soul!" cried Mrs. Jardine, falling back in her chair, her mouth
agape. "My dear, you don't MEAN that? You only said that to shock me."

"But why should I wish to shock you? I sincerely mean it," persisted
Kate.

"You amazing creature! I never heard a girl talk like that before,"
said Mrs. Jardine.

"But you can't look straight ahead of you any direction you turn
without seeing a girl working for dear life to attract the man she
wants; if she can't secure him, some other man; and in lieu of him, any
man at all, in preference to none. Life shows us woman on the age-old
quest every day, everywhere we go; why be so secretive about it? Why
not say honestly what we want, and take it if we can get it? At any
rate, that is the most important thing inside my sunbonnet. I knew
you'd be shocked."

"But I am not shocked at what you say, I agree with you. What