"She was born in Ohio, and was left an orphan, and practically
unprovided for, at an early age. She was helped by kind friends--all
this is from her own lips--until she was old enough to help herself by
teaching, and then, by some means or other, she came East and studied
medicine, and made the start for herself that you see. All of which, I
beg to anticipate you in saying, is marvellously to her credit. She is
plainly a brilliant and capable young woman of whom any mother might be
proud, provided she had to be. But because it was creditable and
sensible in Miss Jacket to make the most of herself in that particular
way, you surely would not advocate that the daughters of the Princess
of Wales and the Empress of Germany should do the same."
"I should certainly advocate their doing something useful," I said in
my dogged fashion. "Besides, Winona is the daughter neither of the
Princess of Wales nor the Empress of Germany."
"No, she is not," said Josephine, in a tone which seemed to imply that
she was grateful for the escape. After all, who of us to-day would
give a rush to be a king or queen? What successful business or
professional man would exchange the exquisite comfort of the domestic
hearth and all the magazines for the prerogatives of royalty? I
understand perfectly what Josephine wished to express, and agreed with
her on the point. Her daughters, save for a little pomp and
circumstance, were practically the peers of any and all princesses.
"Just consider, for a moment, Winona and Miss Jacket side by side,"
Josephine continued. "Don't you see any difference between them?"
"Well, of course, Winona is an unusually handsome girl," I murmured.
"Besides, she is younger."
"Younger!" groaned Josephine, evidently believing me hopeless. "Do you
really, seriously think, Fred, that they are to be mentioned in the
same breath as ladies?"