wishes never to
come out at all."

"What an egregiously sensible girl," I murmured.

"I hope you will not encourage her, Fred," pleaded my darling. "I have
counted so much on her. If Josie had taken it into her head to be
queer, I shouldn't have said a word, for I think myself that is often
for a plain girl's happiness not to have to undergo the ordeal of being
neglected; but in the case of a beauty like Winona it would be such a
waste! There is not a girl of her age who compares with her in beauty."

"What is it she wishes to do?" I asked, with a knitted brow. A man is
apt to leave the management of his own daughters to his wife, even
though he is a philosopher and prolific in theories. I had rather
taken it for granted that certain advanced notions of mine regarding
the conduct of women's lives would be allowed to lie dormant in my
brain for lack of an animating cause, or, more accurately speaking, for
lack of moral courage on my part to exploit them for the benefit of my
own flesh and blood. It is more satisfactory to try experiments in the
line of education on some one else's children. Besides, I had argued
that Josephine was the proper person to propose a departure from the
established method, in conformity with which conclusion I had paid out
a handsome round sum for a coming-out party and a social wardrobe for
my eldest girl. But now I felt in conscience bound to prick up my ears.

"She doesn't know herself what she wishes to do," said my wife,
dejectedly. "She is daft on the subject of books and education."

"Is not that rather to her credit?" I ventured to inquire.

Josephine gazed at me as though my words had stung her.

"Of course it is to her credit," she replied, almost fiercely. "You
know perfectly well, Fred, I have encouraged the girls to study and
cultivate their minds in every conceivable manner, and that I have
always said they should have equal advantages in the way of education
with their brothers so far as it was possible to procure them. I have
just told you that if Josie had wished to be a student and to go in for
a career of some kind, I should have been perfectly willing; yes, I
should have been glad. But it does seem hard that they should change
places, and the one who is a radiant beauty, and sure to be universally
admired, should take it into her head to cut loose from society. I
remember saying when she was christened that we were gambling with
Divine Providence in givin