and Van Dyke lace. Lucille's dress of light blue faille silk, garnished
with pearls and guipure lace, was very becoming. Leo so told Lucille, and
she thanked him but hid behind her lips the thought that Leo never before
seemed half so manly. Mr. Searles evidently admired Leo, and he talked to
him of Italy's greatness in literature and art. He sat at Colonel
Harris's right, opposite Mrs. Harris. Leo and Lucille occupied seats at
the end of the table, and at their right and left sat Alfonso and
Gertrude.

Guests of the hotel and their friends chatted in low conversation at the
many tables of the model dining-room. Electric lights shone soft in the
ceiling, and under pretty shades at each table, which added much to the
general effect.

Long before the sweets and fruits were reached, the conversation had
drifted from one conventional topic to another, until Mrs. Harris asked
Hugh Searles what he thought of higher education for women.

"Yes, yes, Mr. Searles," said Gertrude, "please tell us all about the
English girl."

"Does she go to college, and does she ride a bicycle!" queried Lucille.

Mrs. Harris was eager to listen to the Englishman's reply for often she
had earnestly talked the matter over in her home. Mr. Searles was very
frank in his views, and surprisingly liberal for an Englishman, and well
he might be, for his own mother was a power, and his sisters were strong
mental forces in Lincolnshire. Aided by tutors and their scholarly
mother, they had pursued at home, under difficulties, about the same
course of studies, that Hugh, their brother, had followed in the
university.

Searles believed that absolute freedom should be given to women to do
anything they wished to do in the world, provided they could do it as
well as men, and that nobody had any right to assert they should not.

Colonel Harris, even for a business man, was also advanced in his ideas.
He had advocated for his daughters that they should possess healthy
bodies and minds, and be able to observe closely and reason soundly.

Lucille said that she favored an education which would best conserve and
enlarge woman's graces, her delicate feeling and thought, and her love
for the beautiful.

Then Leo and Alfonso both declared that Lucille had expressed fully their
own opinions.

Colonel Harris added, "Come, Gertrude, tell us what you think."

Her face flushed a little as she replied, for she felt all that she said,
"Father, I like what Mr. Se