Miss  Dodd,  and  all  our  sex,  I  am  not  destitute  of  tact ;
and  tact,  you  know,  is  'the  talent  of  talents.'  I  feel,"
here  she  bit  her  lip,  "  myself  fit  for  public  life.  I  am
ambitious."


LOVE  ME  LITTLE,  LOVE  ME  LONG.  167

"  Oh,  you  are,  are  you  ?  "

"  Very ;  and  perhaps  you  will  kindly  tell  me  how  I  had
best  direct  that  ambition ;  the  army  ?  no ;  marching
against  daisies,  and  dancing  and  flirting  in  garrison
towns,  is  frivolous  and  monotonous  too.  It  isn't  as  if
war  was  raging,  trumpets  ringing  and  squadrons  charg-
ing. Your  brother's  profession?  Not  for  the  world.
