Will you give these things to me, Mr.Tappan ?" Mr.Tappan's dry lips cracked apart; he swallowed grimly several times, then his long bony fingers sought the meagre ends of his black string tie: "In the cultiwation of the indiwidool," he began harshly, and checked himself, when Geraldine flushed to her ear tips and stamped her foot.
Self-control had gone at last.
"I won't listen to that!" she said, breathless; "I've listened to it for ten years--as long as I can remember.

Answer me honestly, Mr.Tappan! Can I have what other women have--silk underwear and stockings--real lace on my night dresses--and plenty of it?
Can I have suitable gowns and furs, and have my hair dressed properly?
I want you to answer; can I make my debut this winter and have the gowns I require--and the liberty that girls of my age have ?" She turned on Colonel Mallett: "The liberty that Naida has had is all I want; the sort of things you let her have all I ask for." And appealing to Magnelius Grandcourt, who stood pursing his thick lips, puffed out like a surprised pouter pigeon: "Your daughter Catherine has more than I ask; why do you let her have what you consider bad for me?
_Why_ ?" Mr.Grandcourt swallowed several times, and spoke in an undertone to Joshua Hogg.

But he did not reply to Geraldine.
Remsen Tappan turned his iron visage toward Colonel Mallett--ignoring Geraldine's questions.
"In the cultiwation of the indiwidool," he began again dauntlessly---- "Isn't there anybody to answer me ?" asked Geraldine, turning from one to another.
"Concerning the cultiwation----" "Answer me!" she flashed back.

There were tears in her voice, but her eyes blazed.
"Miss Seagrave," interposed old Mr.Montross gravely, "I beg of you to remember----" "Let him answer me first! I asked him a perfectly plain question.
It--it is silly to ignore me as though I were a foolish child--as though I didn't know my mind." "I think, Mr.Tappan, perhaps if you could give Miss Seagrave a qualified answer to her questions--make some preliminary statement--" began Mr.Cray cautiously.
"Concerning what ?" snapped Tappan with a grim stare.
"Concerning my stockings and my underwear," said Geraldine fiercely.
"I'm tired of dressing like a servant!" Mr.Tappan's rugged jaw opened and shut with another snap.
"I'm opposed to any such innowation," he said.
"And--my coming out this winter?
And my quarterly allowance?
Answer me!" "Time enough when you turn twenty-one, Miss Seagrave.

Cultiwation of mind concerns you now, not cultiwation of raiment." "That--that--" stammered Geraldine, "is s-su-premely s-silly." The tears reached her eyes; she brushed them away angrily.
Mallett coughed and glanced at Myndert Beekman, then past the secretary, Mr.Varick, directly at Mr.Tappan.
"If you could see your way to--ah--accede to some--a number--perhaps, in a measure, to all of Miss Seagrave's not unreasonable requests, Mr.
Tappan----" [Illustration: "'Can I have what other women have--silk underwear and stockings ?'"] He hesitated, looked dubiously at Mr.Montross, who nodded.