young lady's breeding. None the less they thought Rhoda a remarkable
person, and listened to her utterances respectfully.

'And what is your latest paradox, Miss Nunn?' inquired the doctor,
with grave facetiousness, when he had looked round the young faces
at his board.

'Really, I forget, doctor. Oh, but I wanted to ask you, Do you think
women ought to sit in Parliament?'

'Why, no,' was the response, as if after due consideration. 'If they
are there at all they ought to stand.'

'Oh, I can't get you to talk seriously,' rejoined Rhoda, with an air
of vexation, whilst the others were good-naturedly laughing. 'Mr.
Smithson thinks there ought to be female members of Parliament.

'Does he? Have the girls told you that there's a nightingale in Mr.
Williams's orchard?'

It was always thus. Dr. Madden did not care to discuss even
playfully the radical notions which Rhoda got from her objectionable
friend. His daughters would not have ventured to express an opinion
on such topics when he was present; apart with Miss Nunn, they
betrayed a timid interest in whatever proposition she advanced, but
no gleam of originality distinguished their arguments.

After tea the little company fell into groups--some out of doors
beneath the apple-trees, others near the piano at which Virginia was
playing Mendelssohn. Monica ran about among them with her