"But not enough," resumed Mrs. Bateman. "Not so much as we ought to have done. Not so much as we might have done had the City Council been with, instead of against us, or at best, merely tolerant of us. Now here is our opportunity. The lower element has put up a man, notoriously bad and unfit, to be mayor. The better side is all at sea. Our old mayor (weak enough, but infinitely better than Barnaby Burke) is ill with an incurable disease, and no one whose name inspires the least particle of confidence has been mentioned yet to take his place. Let us put up a good, whole-souled, fearless woman and get her elected." "Impossible!" said Mrs. Jewett. "We can do it," said the fluffy woman in blue. "My husband would help us; I know he would." "But who?" asked Mrs. Mason. "Where could we find the woman?" "Right here in our ranks," said Mrs. Bateman. "One of our own members. Gertrude, you're just the woman for us." Miss Van Deusen did not answer. Only the quick flush showed how the possibilities of the moment found echo in the consternation at her heart. "You are independent both by nature and by inheritance. You represent the best element of our citizens, you have means and time, you are bound by no family ties, and you have the kind of courage for the position," urged Mrs. Bateman. "What will the men say?" reflected Mrs. Jewett. "It'll give 'em a shock," murmured Mrs. Mason, decidedly. "They need a shock. Yes, Gertrude, you are just the woman to try it,--to try for it, I mean. We'll all work for you,--and with you." "Now, ladies, let us look the situation squarely in the face," said Mrs. Bateman. "I've lain awake many a night of late, thinking out things. It will mean a tremendous amount of hard and systematic work to elect a woman to the mayor's chair in Roma. But if we are thoroughly organized and can get some of the men's leagues and clubs to endorse us, I believe we can win. Think of it seriously a few minutes, and let us keep silence for a little while." Then ensued the strange spectacle of fifteen women sitting at luncheon--speechless. It was a custom they had, whenever an important subject came up for discussion, to take ten or fifteen minutes for silent thought instead of wasting that time in discussion that did not get anywhere; so that when the moment for talking arrived the club-members, being accustomed to exert their mental powers, were prepared to advance and weigh such arguments as might be brought forth. "Gertrude," said Mrs. Bateman at last, "you haven't spoken yet. You see your civic duty?" "It will call for an appalling amount of courage and self-reliance and belief in the ideals of good government," began Gertrude--and stopped. Her voice thrilled with a new emotion and her fine eyes glowed with prophetic hopefulness. "But the best people would be all with you," put in a young woman at the other end of the table.