e common path
Which my poor mother would have made _me_ try,
And lead some honest man to think that they
Are wedding _him_, and not his bank-account?
Let woman, equally with man, be bred
To learn with thoroughness some craft or trade
By which she may support herself at least,
You place her more at liberty to shun
Unions, no priest, no church can sanctify!'[3]

"Percival eyed me with a puzzled look,
Then said: 'The time is on its way, I hope,
When from her thraldom woman will come forth,
And in her own hands take her own redress;
When laws disabling her shall not be made
Under the cowardly, untested plea
That man is better qualified than woman
To estimate her needs and do her justice.
Justice to her shall be to man advancement;
And woman's wit can best heal woman's wrongs.
Accelerate that time, all women true
To their own sex,--yet not so much to that
As to themselves and all the human race!
But pardon me; I wander from the point,--
Following you. Now tell me, could you make
America your home?'

"The sudden question
Made my heart leap, and the hot crimson rush
Up to my brow. Silent I bowed my head,
And he continued thus: 'If it should be,
That one, not wholly alien to your tastes,--
A man not quite so young as you, perhaps,
But not beyond his prime,--an honest man,--
I will not say with ample means, for that
Would jar upon your heart,--one who could make
Your home a plentiful and happy one,--
Should offer you his hand,--would it deter you
To know that in America your lot
Must henceforth be?'

"My breath came quick,--my eyes
Turned swift away, lest he should mark their joy
And count his prize too cheaply won. I sighed,
But did not speak. 'May I go on?' he asked.
A 'yes' distinct, though faint, flew from my lips.
'May I,' said he, 'tell Kenrick he may hope?'
'What!' cried I, looking up, with something fiercer
Than mere chagrin in my unguarded frown."

Linda broke in upon the story here,
And turning to her father with a smile
Tender as dawning light, yet arch and gay,
Cried, "Fie, my father! Could you be so dull?
How could you treat my future mother so?"
"Nay, do not blame me hastily," said he,
With glad paternal eyes regarding her;
"How could a modest man--and I was one--
Suppose that youth and wealth, and gracious gifts
Of person, such as Kenrick