I had a daughter, I should consider him a dangerous associate for her."
"My dear Mrs. Harden, you do not know my daughter."
"My very dear General, I know her a great deal better than you do; and it is my belief that while Margaret knows more of art and is a better sculptor than she has any right to be at her age, it is at the expense of much useful knowledge of men and women. Of their effect upon each other, of character, and of real life she is as ignorant as a child."
Stuart Ruysdale, whose love for his daughter was almost as deep as his pride in her work, was annoyed at what her friend had said. He comforted himself, however, with the belief that Mrs. Harden had failed to understand the girl.
"And even if so," continued Mrs. Harden, somewhat inconsequently, "why not? Why should n't Margaret fall in love like everybody else? I don't suppose, General, that you are going to pledge your daughter to single unblessedness?"
"N-n-no, not that," said the General, doubtfully, prolonging the nasal sound of the n; "n-not that exactly. I should not wish to influence her in that respect; but it is a great question in my mind whether she would not be happier to remain as she is."
