"No, no, dear. I know that you mean what you say, but I have seen
something of the world, and I know that such arrangements never answer.
There cannot be two masters in a house, and yet at my age my freedom is
very necessary to me."

"But you would be completely free."

"No, dear, you cannot be that if you are a guest in another man's house.
Can you suggest no other alternative?"

"That we remain with you."

"No, no. That is out of the question. Mrs. Westmacott herself says
that a woman's first duty is to marry. Marriage, however, should be an
equal partnership, as she points out. I should wish you both to marry,
but still I should like a suggestion from you, Clara, as to what I
should do."

"But there is no hurry, papa. Let us wait. I do not intend to marry
yet."

Doctor Walker looked disappointed. "Well, Clara, if you can suggest
nothing, I suppose that I must take the initiative myself," said he.

"Then what do you propose, papa?" She braced herself as one who sees
the blow which is about to fall.

He looked at her and hesitated. "How like your poor dear mother you
are, Clara!" he cried. "As I looked at you then it was as if she had