"You might be any man's ideal." "Oh, really--" ejaculated Mrs.Goddard, somewhat startled at the force of the sweeping compliment.

To be told point-blank, even by an enthusiastic youth of one and twenty, that one is the ideal woman, must be either very pleasant or very startling.
"Excuse me," she said quickly, before he could answer her, "you know of course I am very ignorant--yes I am--but will you please tell me what is an 'ideal' ?" "Why--yes," said John, "it is very easy.

Ideal comes from idea.

Plato meant, by the idea, the perfect model--well, do you see ?" "Not exactly," said Mrs.Goddard.
"It is very simple.

When I, when anybody, says you are the ideal woman, it is meant that you are the perfect model, the archetype of a woman." "Yes--but that is absurd," said his companion rather coldly.
"I am sorry that it should seem absurd," said John in a persuasive tone; "it seems very natural to me.