ld's prattle. She might have amused
herself by encouraging this chatterbox to go through the list of their
acquaintances, and pick out a goodly choice of suitors. She might have
encouraged her to give expression to her profound views of the chances
and troubles of life, and the safeguards that timid maidens may seek.
But she suddenly said, in a highly matter-of-fact manner:--

"What you say is quite true, Carry, and I've thought of it several
times. It is a very bad thing for an actress to be left without a father
or husband, or brother, as her ostensible guardian. People are always
glad to hear stories--and to make them--about actresses. You would be no
good at all, Carry--"

"Very well, then," the younger sister said, promptly, "you've got to get
married. And to a rich man, too; who will buy you a theatre, and let you
do what you like in it."

Miss Gertrude White, whatever she may have thought of this speech, was
bound to rebuke the shockingly mercenary ring in it.

"For shame, Carry! Do you think people marry from such motives as that?"

"I don't know," said Carry; but she had, at least, guessed.

"I should like my husband to have money, certainly," Miss White said,
frankly; and here she flung the MS. book from her on to a neighboring
chair. "I should like to be able to refuse parts that did not suit me. I
should like to be able to take just such engagements as I chose. I
should like to go to Paris for a whole year, and study hard--"

"Your husband might not wish you to remain an actress," said Miss Carry.

"Then he would never be my husband," the elder sister said, with
decision. "I have not worked hard for nothing. Just when I begin to
think I can do something--when I think I can get beyond those
coquettish, drawing-room, simpering parts that people run after
now--just when the very name of Mrs. Siddons, or Rachael, or any of the
great actresses makes my heart jump--when I have ambition and a fair
chance, and all that--do you think I am to give the whole thing up, and
sink quietly into the position of Mrs. Brown or Mrs. Smith, who is a
very nice lady, no doubt, and very respectable, and lives a quiet and
orderly life, with no greater excitement than scheming to get big people
to go to her garden parties?"

She certainly seemed very clear on that point.

"I don't see that men are so ready to give up their professions, when
they marry, in order to devote themselves to domestic life, even when
they have ple