He felt at once that the iron of Girton had not
entered into her soul, as into so many of our modern young women's.
There was vitality enough left in her for a genuine laugh of
innocent amusement. "Oh yes," she said, merrily; "that's what I
always answer to all possible objectors to my ways and ideas. I
reply with dignity, '_I_ was brought up in the family of a
clergyman of the Church of England.'"
"And what does the Dean say to your views?" Alan interposed
doubtfully.
Herminia laughed again. If her eyes were profound, two dimples
saved her. "I thought you were with us," she answered with a
twinkle; "now, I begin to doubt it. You don't expect a man of
twenty-two to be governed in all things, especially in the
formation of his abstract ideas, by his father's opinions. Why
then a woman?"
"Why, indeed?" Alan answered. "There I quite agree with you. I
was thinking not so much of what is right and reasonable as of what
is practical and usual. For most women, of course, are--well, more
or less dependent upon their fathers."
"But I am not," Herminia answered, with a faint suspicion of just
pride in the undercurrent of her tone.
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