life you've led. You've made me luxurious and lazy,
Grandma....Rather than President I'd prefer him to be ambassador
to England, after a while, when we could afford it. We could have
a great social career."

"You think you can manage him?" repeated Madam Bowker.

She had been simply listening, her thoughts not showing at the
surface. Her tone was neither discouraging nor encouraging, merely
interrogative. But Margaret scented a doubt. "Don't you think so?"
she said a little less confidently.

"I don't know....I don't know....It will do no harm to try."

Margaret's expression was suddenly like a real face from which a
mask has dropped. "I must do it, Grandma. If I don't I shall--I
shall HATE him! I will not be his servant! When I think of the
humiliations he has put upon me I--I almost hate him now!"

Madam Bowker was alarmed, but was too wise to show it. She
laughed. "How seriously you take yourself, child," said she. "All
that is very young and very theatrical. What do birth and breeding
mean if not that one has the high courage to bear what is, after
all, the lot of most women, and the high intelligence to use one's
circumstances, whatever they may be, to accomplish one's
ambitions? A lady cannot afford to despise her husband. A lady is,
first of all, serene. You talk like a Craig rather than like a
Severance. If he can taint you this soon how long will it be
before you are at his level? How can you hope to bring him up to
yours?"