The Press., 1893-06-15

ssCh, lady of mature years may do many things which. a young girl must avoid"
 'sOh, no, cried Ida. Mrs. Westma- colt says that there should be one law for all. Have cigarette, pa?''
 'sNo, thank you. never smoke in the morning. l"
 "No? Perhaps you don't care for the brand. What are these, ClaraY'
 Egyptians
 'sAh, we must have some Richmond Gems or Turkish. l wish, pa, when you go into town you would get me some Turkish
 T will do nothing of the kind. I do not at all think that it is q fitting habit for young ladies. I do not agree with Mrs. Westmacott upon the point"
 Really, pa! It was you who advised us to initiate her."
 "But with discrimination. What is it that you are drinking, Clara?''
 "Rum, papa"
 "Rum2 In the morning?" He sat down and rubbed his eyes as one who tries to shake off some evil dream. Did you say rum?"
 "Yes, pa. They all drink it in the pro- fession which 1 am going to take up."
 Profession, Clara?"
 "Mrs. Westmacott says that every woman should follow calling, and that we ought to choose those which women have always avoided"
 "Quite so."
 "Well, I am going. to act upon her ad- vice. I am going to be pilot
 My dear Clara! A pilot? This is too much"
 'This is beautiful book, papa. The Lights, Beacons, Buoys, Channels and Landmarks of Great Britain. Here is another, The Master Mariners Hand- book You can't imagine how interest ing it is."
 "You are joking, Clara. You must be joking.
 "Not at all, pa. You can't think what lot have learned already. I'm to carry green light to starboard and a red to port, with white light at the masthead, and flare upevery 15 minutes. J
 "Oh, won't it look pretty at nightr'
 
 "And I know the fog signals. One blast means that ship steers to star- board, two to port, three astern, four that it is manageable. But this man asks such dreadful questions at the end of each chapter Listen to this: You see red light. The ship is on the port tack and the wind at north. What course is that ship steering to point?"
 The doctor rose with a gesture of de- spair. II can't imagine what has come over you both," said he.
 My dear papa, we are trying hard to live up to Mrs. Westmacott's standard g
 "Well, must say that I do not ad- mire the result. Your chemistry, Idl, may perhaps do no harm, but your scheme, Clara, is out of the question. How girl of your sense could ever en- certain such notion is more than can imagine. But I must absolutely forbid you to go further with it."
 But, pa" asked Ida, with an air of in- nocent inquiry in her big blue eyes, "what are we to do when your con- mands and Mrs. Westmacott's advice are opposed? You told us to obey her. She says that when women try to throw of their shackles their fathers. brothers and husbands are the very first to try to rivet them on again, and that in such a matter no man has any authority"
 "Does Mrs. Wcstmacott teach you that I am not the head of my own house2' The doctor flushed, and his grizzled hai1 bristled ill his anger.
 Certainly. She says that all heads of houses are relics of the dark ages"
 The doctor muttered something and stamped his foot upon the carpet. Then without a word he passed out into the garden, and his daughters could see him striding furiously up and down, cutting off the heads of the flowers with a switch.
 "Oh, you darling! You played your part so splendidlyr', cried Ida.
 But how cruel it is! When saw the sorrow and surprise in his eyes, very nearly put my arms about him and told him all. Don't you think we have done enough:"
 "No, no, no. Not nearly enough. You must not turn weak now, Clara. It is 50 funny that I should be loading you. It Is quite q new experience. But know that nm right. IT wo go on as we aro doing, wo shall be able to say all our lives that we have saved him. And if VIC don't, oh, Clara. we should never for give ourselves"
 (Continued next weekly