Valeria's Aunt Paget was with them on a visit when the matter was under discussion. Mrs. Paget was seldom admitted to family counsels, and felt herself something of a stranger in her sister's house. She was the worldly, the frivolous member of her family, who "dressed in the mode" and "cultivated society." She was surprised when on this occasion the topic proved too much of the "burning" order to be smuggled out of sight. "Study sculpture! Such a thing is unheard of!" ejaculated Mrs. Paget, making wide blue eyes at her elder sister and her niece. "So I tell Valeria," said Mrs. Gano. "She couldn't go to New York alone, she couldn't live there without a chaperon." "And even if she could afford it, you need her here. You are always ill nowadays." "It isn't that," said Mrs. Gano. "I'm thinking of Valeria herself." "Of course; so am I. She ought to marry." "I shall never marry!" Aunt Paget smiled. "Well, at all events, it won't help you to be chiselling marble." "Help me to what?" "To a suitable marriage, of course." Valeria's dark eyes flashed, but before she could speak her mother said: "I am not one of those women who are anxious for their children to marry. I shall be more than content if Valeria remains single." "Well, Sarah, forgive me, but I think it's a mistake. I said so before we left Maryland, when she refused young Middleton. Every one of us was married before we were Valeria's age, and none of us ever _dreamed_ of wanting to go away from our home and study sculpture, or do _anything_ in the least unladylike." Valeria gathered up her sewing as if to leave the room. "You must admit," Aunt Paget went on, "there's something unfeminine about sculpture. I'm not sure it isn't even a little irreligious." "You don't know anything about it, Maria. You never had the least taste yourself for anything but dress and going out." "Well, you see, that's what makes it so surprising," said the younger sister, in an apologetic tone. "You have always thought me so frivolous, and yet I wouldn't _think_--no, not in my wildest moments--of being a sculptor." As Valeria left the room, Mrs. Gano looked with pride after the tall, willowy figure. "You must remember," she said, speaking unusually gently, "the Ganos are more artistic than we Calverts. Valeria has great talents."