"That would be poor policy. That’s the boomerang sort of argument--the one that comes back at one’s self. Besides, I’ve too much confidence in my sister’s good judgment to believe that she would fire a proposition like that at me without a reason back of it." "The reason is easy. I’m restless for something to do. I don’t want to be a next season’s debutante, and go through a winter like the five Olive has spent. I want to work. I want to fit myself to be independent. If anything should happen to father’s money, I don’t want to be like the Desmond girls after their father’s failure, as helpless as baby birds pushed out of the nest. Olive could n’t do a thing. Forrest is just an idler. You have Jane to take care of. But I--I could be learning to support myself." "The business is in fine condition. We never were so substantial a firm as now. There’s very little danger of our going to pot." "That may be," said Shirley, "though things do happen, Murray, out of a clear sky. But that’s not my real reason. My real reason is a genuine, great big longing to amount to something. I never come down to the office without envying the girls I see there. I envy them because they have to do it--because they ’re supporting themselves and somebody else by it." "Do you mean that you would like a position in our office?" "Oh, would n’t I! If I could study and study, and practise and practise, and then some day take a dictation from you or father and bring you a perfect copy, I believe I ’d be--Murray, I ’d be the happiest girl that ever lived!" "You mean that, do you?" "I do." "Have you thought that if you took a position in our office, or in any other, you ’d be shutting out some poor girl who really needs the salary?" "Yes, I’ve thought of it. I know that’s an argument against it. But, Murray, don’t you think the rich men’s daughters need employment sometimes quite as much as the poor ones do? Why, I ’m telling you I envy the poor ones!" "I know; but the fact remains that they need the money, and you don’t." "Are n’t you keeping some poor man out of the salary you get by taking the place of father’s right hand man?" Murray laughed. "There’s a back-hander for me! But I ’m practically a partner, you know, and a firm can’t do without its heads, no matter how many poor fellows would like the job." "And you have the right to make something of yourself. But I have n’t because I should be taking work away from some girl who needs it. I don’t want to do that. I ’d work for nothing, or give my salary away." "Ah, but that wouldn’t solve the problem. The girl whose job you took from her would n’t accept your salary from you." "Then, just because a girl’s father can support her, must she give up learning how to support herself? And the fun of doing it?" "What do you expect the family to say about it?" "Of course they won’t like it. Except father. I think he will."