“Yes.  It is a superb and generous benefaction.”

“I lay awake for hours last night thinking about it; thinking particularly of the special point I am desirous to consult you in regard to.  I don’t wish to appear officious, or to say anything I shouldn’t, but knowing from what I heard you state in your speech the other day that you feel as I do in regard to such matters, I take the liberty of suggesting that it seems to me of very great importance that the management of this magnificent gift should be in proper hands.  May I ask you without impropriety if you will protect Mr. Parsons so that captious or unenthusiastic persons, men or women, will be unable to control the policy of his hospital?  He would wish it so, I am sure.  I thought of mentioning the matter to him myself, but I was afraid lest it might worry him and spoil the satisfaction of his generosity or retard his cure.  Is what I ask possible?  Do I make myself clear?”

“Perfectly—­perfectly.  A valuable suggestion,” he said.  “I am glad that you have spoken—­very glad.  Alive as I am to the importance of protecting ourselves at all points, I might not have realized this particular danger had you not called it to my attention.  Perhaps only a clever woman would have thought of it.”

“Oh, thank you.  I felt that I could not keep silence, and run the risk of what might happen.”

“Precisely.  I think I can relieve your mind by telling you—­which under the circumstances is no breach of professional secrecy, for it is plain that the testator desires you to know his purpose—­that Mr. Parsons has done me the honor to request me to act as the executor of his will.  As such I shall be in a position to make sure that those to whom the management of his hospital is intrusted are people in whom you and I would have confidence.”

“Ah!  That is very satisfactory.  It makes everything as it should be, and I am immensely relieved.”

“Now that you have spoken,” he added, meeting her eager gaze with a propitiating look of reflective wisdom, “I will consider the advisability of taking the further precaution of advising the testator to name in his will the persons who shall act as the trustees of his charity.  That would clinch the matter.  The selection of the individuals would necessarily lie with Mr. Parsons, but it would seem eminently natural and fitting that he should name you to represent your sex on such a board.  I hope it would be agreeable to you to serve?”

Selma flushed.  “It would be a position which I should prize immensely.  Such a possibility had not occurred to me, though I felt that some definite provision should be made.  The responsibility would be congenial to me and very much in my line.”

“Assuredly.  If you will permit me to say so, you are just the woman for the place.  We have met only a few times, Mrs. Littleton, but I am a man who forms my conclusions of people rapidly, and it is obvious to me that you are thoughtful, energetic, and liberal-minded—­qualities which are especially requisite for intelligent progress in semi-public work.  It is essentially desirable to enlist the co-operation of well-equipped women to promote the national weal.”