Mrs. G. Do! With your extravagant tastes it would be madness. I have no doubt Mr. Doughlass would make you a very good husband, and it is time you were thinking of settling in life now. Alice. But Kate is older than I am. Mrs. G. I fear poor Kate will surely be an old maid, in spite of all I can do. Alas! there has never been one in the family yet, and to think one of _my_ daughters should be first to bear that stigma is terrible to contemplate. Alice. Isn't it strange that she _never_ tries to be attractive to gentlemen? Mrs. G. And she actually wants to vote. I am sure I cannot conceive where she obtained such thoughts. Certainly not from _me_. (Enter Kate, C.) Kate (stopping at door). You are mistaken, mother. Mrs. G (rising quickly). _You_ here, Kate? How you do startle one! What do you mean by that remark? Kate (coming down C.). I mean, mother, that I first conceived my horror of occupying a dependent position from seeing how you were obliged to coax and manage, to bear cross looks and sarcastic remarks, whenever you asked father for money. Mrs. G. (looking around alarmed). Hush! Do not speak so loud; your father is in the library, and might hear. Kate. I am not afraid to say to any one that I had rather earn _my_ money than have it doled out to me as a favor grudgingly bestowed. (Sits at table L. C.) Mrs. G. (sitting L.). I will admit, Kate, that it has always been very hard to obtain money from your father; and now listen to reason. You are aware that we spend every cent of our income in order to keep up our style of living. The future of you two girls cannot be provided for by us, so there is but one thing for you to do,--to marry. Kate. Are you sure that is the only thing? Mrs. G. Why, what else is there--for a woman? Kate. Many women are independent by the fruit of their own exertions. Why could not I be? Mrs. G. (with slight scream). You quite shock me. Do you not know you would lose your position in society by such a course? Kate. I am willing to lose it, if to keep it I must barter my own self-respect. Mrs. G. Barter your self-respect! What _do_ you mean? Kate. I mean sell myself for the sake of being supported in idleness. Alice (languidly fanning herself). The idea of a lady actually wanting to work! Kate. _I_ cannot live on husks, Alice. Mrs. G. I cannot understand why you should be so opposed to marriage. Kate. You mistake me very much if you think I am. Oh, no! I know well that the deepest and truest happiness in life is in love and marriage. It is against making marriage a trade, degrading it to a means of support, that I protest, with all my soul! (Rises.) Alice. A trade! How absurd! Would you marry a poor man for love?