uggy
riding with one fellow after another? Does she ever refuse money for
charity, or for our improvements when it's asked of her? Was she a
credit to the town with her record at the High School, or wasn't she?
Are we proud of her travels in Europe, her high-toned connections, her
business sense, the way she acted to that old reprobate of a father, or
ain't we? That's what I want to know. And she's got real intellect
instead of just the average American brightness; that's the secret of
the whole trouble. What if she does sit up all night talking to a man
who's got something besides chickens and dollars in his head? I'd do the
same if I had the chance. Just make a note of that. If Mr. Gwynne likes
to transfer his attentions to me I'll sit up all night right on Minerva
Haight's doorstep, and talk about any old thing he wants. If I was as
young and handsome as Isabel Otis I'd keep the best man going to myself,
bet your life on it! And I repeat, it's nobody's business." She whirled
upon the pallid Minerva with a flaming face. "Nice business you're
in--sitting at your window all night watching for other people's slips.
You'd make one fast enough if the Lord would let you, and that's what's
the matter with you. Now, put that in your pipe and smoke it."

She sat down amid much laughter and applause. Mrs. Leslie rapped
vigorously for order, although her mouth was twitching.

"Now, ladies," she said, suavely, "if you have all relieved your minds I
will say a few words. First of all, I wish to state that I shall refuse
to put the matter to a vote. It is a question that does not come within
the jurisdiction of the Club, which was not organized to supervise
morals as well as streets and sewers. You can all act towards Isabel and
Mr. Gwynne exactly as your consciences dictate, but for my own part, I
have this to say: I am astonished to find that the Club life, a life
which women the world over have prided themselves upon as the greatest
factor in broadening and elevating that their sex has ever known, seems
to have done, in our case at least, so little to eradicate certain
Oriental instincts and traditions. The cities are full of young women
living alone, and self-supporting. Why should not a girl have the same
privilege in the country? Because she is handsome and distinguished? I
fancy that a good many girls in analogous circumstances are passing
unnoticed. I have not the least doubt that a very respectable percentage
of very resp