Again Ida pondered. "He has never tried what it is to live with a
strong-minded woman," said she. "If we could only get him to realize
it in time. Oh, Clara, I have it; I have it! Such a lovely plan!" She
leaned back in her chair and burst into a fit of laughter so natural and
so hearty that Clara had to forget her troubles and to join in it.
"Oh, it is beautiful!" she gasped at last. "Poor papa! What a time he
will have! But it's all for his own good, as he used to say when we
had to be punished when we were little. Oh, Clara, I do hope your heart
won't fail you."
"I would do anything to save him, dear."
"That's it. You must steel yourself by that thought."
"But what is your plan?"
"Oh, I am so proud of it. We will tire him for ever of the widow, and
of all emancipated women. Let me see, what are Mrs. Westmacott's main
ideas? You have listened to her more than I. Women should attend less to
household duties. That is one, is it not?"
"Yes, if they feel they have capabilities for higher things. Then she
thinks that every woman who has leisure should take up the study of
some branch of science, and that, as far as possible, every woman should
qualify herself for some trade or profession, choosing for preference
those which have been hitherto monopolized by men. To enter the others
would only be to intensify the present competition."
"Quite so. That is glorious!" Her blue eyes were dancing with mischief,
and she clapped her hands in her delight. "What else? She thinks that
whatever a man can do a woman should be allowed to do also--does she
not?"
"She says so."
"And about dress? The short skirt, and the divided skirt are what she
believes in?"
"Yes."
"We must get in some cloth."
"Why?"
"We must make ourselves a dress each. A brand-new, enfranchised,
emancipated dress, dear. Don't you see my plan? We shall act up to all
Mrs. Westmacott's views in every respect, and improve them when we can.
Then papa will know what it is to live with a woman 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.