'Pappa loved me, but he loved his country better, and taught me to adore
her, and be ready for any sacrifice.' Miss McCabe looked straight at
Merton, like an Iphigenia blended with a Joan of Arc.

'I do sincerely trust that no sacrifice is necessary,' said Merton. 'The
circumstances do not call for so--unexampled a victim.'

'I am to be Lady Principal of the museum when I come to the age of twenty-
five: that is, in six years,' said Miss McCabe proudly. 'You don't call
_that_ a sacrifice?'

Merton wanted to say that the most magnificent of natural varieties would
only be in its proper place. But the _man of business_ and the manager
of a great and beneficent association overcame the mere amateur of
beauty, and he only said that the position of Lady Principal was worthy
of the ambition of a patriot, and a friend of the species.

'Well, I reckon! But a clause in Pappa's will is awkward for me, some.
It is about my marriage,' said Miss McCabe bravely.

Merton assumed an air of grave interest.

'Pappa left it in his will that I was to marry the man (under the age of
five-and-thirty, and of unimpeachable character and education) who should
discover, and add to the museum, the most original and unheard-of natural
variety, whether found in the Old or the New World.'

Merton could scarcely credit the report of his ears.

'Would you oblige me by repeating that statement?' he said, and Miss
McCabe repeated it in identical terms, obviously quoting textually from
the will.

'Now I understand your unhappy position,' said Merton, thoroughly
agreeing with the transatlantic critics who had pronounced the late Mr.
McCabe 'considerable of a crank.' 'But this is far too serious a matter
for me--for our Association. I am no legist, but I am convinced that, at
least British, and I doubt not American, law would promptly annul a
testatory clause so utterly unreasonable and unprecedented.'

'Unreasonable!' exclaimed Miss McCabe, rising to her feet with eyes of
flame, 'I am my father's daughter, and his wish is my law, whatever the
laws that men make may say.'

Her affectation of slang had fallen off; she was absolutely natural now,
and entirely in earnest.

Merton rose also.

'One moment,' he said. 'It would be impertinence in me to express my
admiration of you--of what you say. As the question is not a legal one
(in such I am no fit adviser) I shall think myself honoured if you will
permit me to be of any service i