A Daughter of the Land

"No, and I am afraid I never shall," answered Mrs. Jardine. "You

are rather an astonishing creature. You're so big, so vital; you

absorb knowledge like a sponge takes water -- "

"And for the same purpose," laughed Kate. "That it may be used

for the benefit of others. Tell me some more about me. I find me

such an interesting subject."

"No doubt!" admitted Mrs. Jardine. "Not a doubt about that! We

are all more interested in ourselves than in any one else in this

world, until love comes; then we soon learn to a love man more

than life, and when a child comes we learn another love, so clear,

so high, so purifying, that we become of no moment at all, and

live only for those we love."

"You speak for yourself, and a class of women like you," answered

Kate gravely. "I'm very well acquainted with many women who have

married and borne children, and who are possibly more selfish than

before. The Great Experience never touched them at all."

There was a tap at the door. Kate opened it and delivered to Mrs.

Jardine a box so big that it almost blocked the doorway.

Mrs. Jardine lifted from the box a big Leghorn hat of weave so

white and fine it almost seemed like woven cloth instead of braid.

There was a bow in front, but the bow was nested in and tied

through a web of flowered gold lace. One velvet end was slightly

long and concealed a wire which lifted one side of the brim a

trifle, beneath which was fastened a smashing big, pale-pink

velvet rose. There was an ostrich plume even longer than the

other, broader, blacker, as wonderful a feather as ever dropped

from the plumage of a lordly bird. Mrs. Jardine shook the hat in

such a way as to set the feather lifting and waving after the

confinement of the box. With slender, sure fingers she set the

bow and lace as they should be, and touched the petals of the

rose. She inspected the hat closely, shook it again, and held it

toward Kate.

"A very small price to pay for the breath of life, which I was

rapidly losing," she said. "Do me the favour to accept it as

casually as I offer it. Did I understand your description

anywhere near right? Is this your hat?"

"Thank you," said Kate. "It is just 'the speaking image' of my

hat, but it's a glorified, sublimated, celestial image. What I

described was merely a hat. This is what I think I have lately

heard Nancy Ellen mention as a 'creation.' Wheuuuuuu!"

She went to the mirror, arranged her hair, set the hat on her

head, and turned.

"Gracious Heaven!" said Mrs. Jardine. "My dear, I understand NOW

why you wore that hat on your journey."