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women were agreed upon one side and all the men upon the other； it
would appear that the matter was settled unanimously when more than
half the population were opposed to it。 Is that right？〃
Again the Admiral wriggled。 It was very awkward for the gallant
seaman to have a handsome woman opposite to him； bombarding him with
questions to none of which he could find an answer。 〃Couldn't even get
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the tompions out of his guns；〃 as he explained the matter to the Doctor that
evening。
〃Now those are really the points that we shall lay stress upon at the
meeting。 The free and complete opening of the professions； the final
abolition of the zenana I call it； and the franchise to all women who pay
Queen's taxes above a certain sum。 Surely there is nothing unreasonable
in that。 Nothing which could offend your principles。 We shall have
medicine； law； and the church all rallying that night for the protection of
woman。 Is the navy to be the one profession absent？〃
The Admiral jumped out of his chair with an evil word in his throat。
〃There； there； ma'am；〃 he cried。 〃Drop it for a time。 I have heard
enough。 You've turned me a point or two。 I won't deny it。 But let it
stand at that。 I will think it over。〃
〃Certainly； Admiral。 We would not hurry you in your decision。 But
we still hope to see you on our platform。〃 She rose and moved about in
her lounging masculine fashion from one picture to another； for the walls
were thickly covered with reminiscences of the Admiral's voyages。
〃Hullo！〃 said she。 〃Surely this ship would have furled all her lower
canvas and reefed her topsails if she found herself on a lee shore with the
wind on her quarter。〃
〃Of course she would。 The artist was never past Gravesend； I swear。
It's the Penelope as she was on the 14th of June； 1857； in the throat of the
Straits of Banca； with the Island of Banca on the starboard bow； and
Sumatra on the port。 He painted it from description； but of course； as
you very sensibly say； all was snug below and she carried storm sails and
double…reefed topsails； for it was blowing a cyclone from the sou'east。 I
compliment you； ma'am； I do indeed！ 〃
〃Oh； I have done a little sailoring myselfas much as a woman can
aspire to； you know。 This is the Bay of Funchal。 What a lovely
frigate！〃
〃Lovely； you say！ Ah； she was lovely！ That is the Andromeda。 I
was a mate aboard of hersub…lieutenant they call it now； though I like the
old name best。〃
〃What a lovely rake her masts have； and what a curve to her bows！
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BEYOND THE CITY
She must have been a clipper。〃
The old sailor rubbed his hands and his eyes glistened。 His old ships
bordered close upon his wife and his son in his affections。
〃I know Funchal；〃 said the lady carelessly。 〃A couple of years ago I
had a seven…ton cutter…rigged yacht； the Banshee； and we ran over to
Madeira from Falmouth。〃
〃You ma'am； in a seven…tonner？〃
〃With a couple of Cornish lads for a crew。 Oh； it was glorious！ A
fortnight right out in the open； with no worries； no letters； no callers； no
petty thoughts； nothing but the grand works of God； the tossing sea and
the great silent sky。 They talk of riding； indeed； I am fond of horses； too；
but what is there to compare with the swoop of a little craft as she pitches
down the long steep side of a wave； and then the quiver and spring as she
is tossed upwards again？ Oh； if our souls could transmigrate I'd be a
seamew above all birds that fly！ But I keep you； Admiral。 Adieu！〃
The old sailor was too transported with sympathy to say a word。 He
could only shake her broad muscular hand。 She was half…way down the
garden path before she heard him calling her； and saw his grizzled head
and weather…stained face looking out from behind the curtains。
〃You may put me down for the platform；〃 he cried； and vanished
abashed behind the I curtain of his Times； where his wife found him at
lunch time。
〃I hear that you have had quite a long chat with Mrs。 Westmacott；〃
said she。
〃Yes； and I think that she is one of the most sensible women that I ever
knew。
〃Except on the woman's rights question； of course。〃
〃Oh； I don't know。 She had a good deal to say for herself on that also。
In fact； mother； I have taken a platfom ticket for her meeting。〃
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CHAPTER VI。
AN OLD STORY。
But this was not to be the only eventful conversation which Mrs。
Westmacott held that day； nor was the Admiral the only person in the
Wilderness who was destined to find his opinions considerably changed。
Two neighboring families； the Winslows from Anerley； and the
Cumberbatches from Gipsy Hill； had been invited to tennis by Mrs。
Westmacott； and the lawn was gay in the evening with the blazers of the
young men and the bright dresses of the girls。 To the older people； sitting
round in their wicker…work garden chairs； the darting； stooping； springing
white figures； the sweep of skirts； and twinkle of canvas shoes； the click of
the rackets and sharp whiz of the balls； with the continual 〃fifteen love
fifteen all！〃 of the marker； made up a merry and exhilarating scene。 To
see their sons and daughters so flushed and healthy and happy； gave them
also a reflected glow； and it was hard to say who had most pleasure from
the game； those who played or those who watched。
Mrs。 Westmacott had just finished a set when she caught a glimpse of
Clara Walker sitting alone at the farther end of the ground。 She ran down
the court； cleared the net to the amazement of the visitors； and seated
herself beside her。 Clara's reserved and refined nature shrank somewhat
from the boisterous frankness and stra