who claims all her
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."

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 that he, munching innocently at his muffins,
was the victim against whom their wiles were planned. Patiently they
waited until at last their opening came.

"It is a beautiful day," he remarked. "It will do for Mrs. Westmacott.
She was thinking of having a spin upon the tricycle."

"Then we must call early. We both intended to see her after breakfast."

"Oh, indeed!" The Doctor looked pleased.

"You know, pa," said Ida, "it seems to us that we really have a very
great advantage in having Mrs. Westmacott living so near."

"Why so, dear?"

"Well, because she is so advanced, you know. If we only study her ways
we may advance ourselves also."

"I think I have heard you say, papa," Clara remarked, "that she is the
type of the woman of the future."

"I am very pleased to hear you speak so sensibly, my dears. I certainly
think that she is a woman whom you may very well take as your model. The
more intimate you are with her the better pleased I shall be."

"Then that is settled," said Clara demurely, and the talk drifted to
other matter