"But as my cousin says in his article, which in my mind should be spread
broadcast, what higher mission for woman than--than--just what are his
words, Emelene?"

Miss Brand leaned forward, her gaze boring into space.

"What higher mission," she quoted, as if talking in a chapel, "for woman
than that she sit enthroned in the home, wielding her invisible but mighty
scepter from that throne, while man, kissing the hand that so lovingly
commands him, shall bear her gifts and do her bidding. That is the
strongest vote in the world. That is the universal suffrage which chivalry
grants to woman. The unpolled vote! Long may it reign!"

Round spots of color had come out on Miss Emelene's long cheeks.

"A man who can think like that has the true--the true--what shall I say,
Alys?"

"But, ladies, I protest that I'm not--"

"Has the true chivalry of spirit, Emelene, that the women are too stark
raving mad to appreciate. You can't come here, Mr. Evans, to two women to
whom womanliness and love of home, thank God, are still uppermost and try
to convert us to--"

Here Mr. Evans executed a triple gyration, to the annoyance of Hanna, who
withdrew from the gesture, and raised his voice to a shout that was not
without a note of command.

"Convert you! Why women alive, what I've been bursting a blood vessel