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next morning that the two sweet girls who sat on either side of him were
deep in a conspiracy； and that he； munching innocently at his muffins； was
the victim against whom their wiles were planned。 Patiently they waited
until at last their opening came。
〃It is a beautiful day；〃 he remarked。 〃It will do for Mrs。 Westmacott。
She was thinking of having a spin upon the tricycle。〃
〃Then we must call early。 We both intended to see her after
breakfast。〃
〃Oh； indeed！〃 The Doctor looked pleased。
〃You know； pa；〃 said Ida； 〃it seems to us that we really have a very
great advantage in having Mrs。 Westmacott living so near。〃
〃Why so； dear？〃
〃Well； because she is so advanced； you know。 If we only study her
ways we may advance ourselves also。〃
〃I think I have heard you say； papa；〃 Clara remarked； 〃that she is the
type of the woman of the future。〃
〃I am very pleased to hear you speak so sensibly； my dears。 I
certainly think that she is a woman whom you may very well take as your
model。 The more intimate you are with her the better pleased I shall be。〃
〃Then that is settled；〃 said Clara demurely； and the talk drifted to other
matters。
All the morning the two girls sat extracting from Mrs。 Westmacott her
most extreme view as to the duty of the one sex and the tyranny of the
other。 Absolute equality； even in details； was her ideal。 Enough of the
parrot cry of unwomanly and unmaidenly。 It had been invented by man
to scare woman away when she poached too nearly upon his precious
preserves。 Every woman should be independent。 Every woman should
learn a trade。 It was their duty to push in where they were least welcome。
Then they were martyrs to the cause； and pioneers to their weaker sisters。
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Why should the wash…tub； the needle； and the housekeeper's book be
eternally theirs？ Might they not reach higher； to the consulting…room； to
the bench； and even to the pulpit？ Mrs。 Westmacott sacrificed her
tricycle ride in her eagerness over her pet subject； and her two fair
disciples drank in every word； and noted every suggestion for future use。
That afternoon they went shopping in London； and before evening strange
packages began to be handed in at the Doctor's door。 The plot was ripe
for execution； and one of the conspirators was merry and jubilant； while
the other was very nervous and troubled。
When the Doctor came down to the dining…room next morning； he was
surprised to find that his daughters had already been up some time。 Ida
was installed at one end of the table with a spirit…lamp； a curved glass
flask； and several bottles in front of her。 The contents of the flask were
boiling furiously； while a villainous smell filled the room。 Clara lounged
in an arm…chair with her feet upon a second one； a blue…covered book in
her hand； and a huge map of the British Islands spread across her lap。
〃Hullo！〃 cried the Doctor； blinking and sniffing； 〃where's the breakfast？〃
〃Oh； didn't you order it？〃 asked Ida。
〃I！ No； why should I？〃 He rang the bell。 〃Why have you not laid
the breakfast； Jane？〃
〃If you please； sir； Miss Ida was a workin' at the table。〃
〃Oh； of course； Jane；〃 said the young lady calmly。 〃I am so sorry。 I
shall be ready to move in a few minutes。〃
〃But what on earth are you doing； Ida？〃 asked the Doctor。 〃The
smell is most offensive。 And； good gracious； look at the mess which you
have made upon the cloth！ Why； you have burned a hole right through。〃
〃Oh； that is the acid；〃 Ida answered contentedly。 〃Mrs。 Westmacott
said that it would burn holes。〃
〃You might have taken her word for it without trying；〃 said her father
dryly。
〃But look here； pa！ See what the book says： ‘The scientific mind
takes nothing upon trust。 Prove all things！' I have proved that。〃
〃You certainly have。 Well； until breakfast is ready I'll glance over the
Times。 Have you seen it？〃
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〃The Times？ Oh； dear me； this is it which I have under my spirit…
lamp。 I am afraid there is some acid upon that too； and it is rather damp
and torn。 Here it is。〃
The Doctor took the bedraggled paper with a rueful face。
〃Everything seems to be wrong to…day；〃 he remarked。 〃What is this
sudden enthusiasm about chemistry； Ida？〃
〃Oh； I am trying to live up to Mrs。 Westmacott's teaching。〃
〃Quite right！ quite right！〃 said he； though perhaps with less heartiness
than he had shown the day before。 〃Ah； here is breakfast at last！〃
But nothing was comfortable that morning。 There were eggs without
egg…spoons； toast which was leathery from being kept； dried…up rashers；
and grounds in the coffee。 Above all； there was that dreadful smell
which pervaded everything and gave a horrible twang to every mouthful。
〃I don't wish to put a damper upon your studies； Ida；〃 said the Doctor；
as he pushed back his chair。 〃But I do think it would be better if you did
your chemical experiments a little later in the day。〃
〃But Mrs。 Westmacott says that women should rise early； and do their
work before breakfast。〃
〃Then they should choose some other room besides the breakfast…
room。〃 The Doctor was becoming just a little ruffled。 A turn in the
open air would soothe him； he thought。 〃Where are my boots？〃 he asked。
But they were not in their accustomed corner by his chair。 Up and
down he searched； while the three servants took up the quest； stooping and
peeping under book…cases and drawers。 Ida had returned to her studies；
and Clara to her blue…covered volume； sitting absorbed and disinterested
amid the bustle and the racket。 At last a general buzz of congratulation
announced that the cook had discovered the boots hung up among the hats
in the hall。 The Doctor； very red and flustered； drew them on； and
stamped off to join the Admiral in his morning walk。
As the door slammed Ida burst into a shout of laughter。 〃You see；
Clara；〃 she cried； 〃the charm works already。 He has gone to number one
instead of to number three。 Oh； we shall win a great victory。 You've
been very good； dear； I could see that you were on thorns to help him
when he was looking for his boots。〃
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〃Poor papa！ It is so cruel。 And yet what are we to do？〃
〃Oh； he will enjoy being comfortable all the more if we give him a
little discomfort now。 What horrible work this chemistry is！ Look at
my frock！ It is ruined。 And this dreadful smell！〃 She threw open the
window； and thrust her little golden…curled head out of it。 Charles
Westmacott was hoeing at the other side of the garden fence。
〃Good morning； sir；〃 said Ida。
〃Good morning！〃 The big man leaned upon his hoe and looked up at
her。
〃Have you any cigarettes； Charles？〃
〃Yes； certainly。〃
〃Throw me up two。〃
〃Here is my case。 Can you catch！〃
A seal…skin case came with a soft thud on to the floor。 Ida opened it。
It was full。
〃What are these？〃 she asked。
〃Egyptians。〃
〃What are some other brands？〃
〃Oh； Richmond Gems； and Turkish； and Cambridge。 But why？〃
〃Never mind！〃 She nodded to him and closed the window。 〃We
must remember all those； Clara；〃 said she。 〃We must learn to talk about
such things。 Mrs。 Westmacott knows all about the brands of cigarettes。
Has your rum come？〃
〃Yes； dear。 It is here。〃
〃And I have my stout。 Come along up to my room now。 This smell
is too abominable。 But we must be ready fo