When I remember all you have done for us it makes me ill
to think of some in our town--giggling, silly little flirts, with no
higher ambition than to strut down the street in a new dress."
"Oh, don't think of them or over-praise me. Perhaps if they had been
here and compelled to face things they would have done better than
I. A short time ago I didn't dream of these experiences, and then I
would have said I couldn't possibly endure them."
"Well, you have," resumed the captain, who was slightly feverish,
excited and inclined to talk. "One of my dearest hopes now is to get
back to my little girl soon and deepen her mind by making her
ashamed of the silly things in a girl's life. Of course I wish her
to be joyous and happy as a young thing should be, as I think you
would be if you had the chance. By means of your story I can make
her ashamed ever to indulge in those picayune, contemptible feminine
traits which exasperate men. I want her to be brave, helpful,
sincere, like you, like her mother.
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