The Washington times., 1894-10-28


and put his foot down everywhere. and his
hand on everything.
Il wish you would not talk so much at din
ner. Emily, when any one is here" he said.
II dislike women who express definite opln-
ions"
u only do 1t about books, and pictures, and
things in my own line," she pleaded.
Il dislike women who express definite
opinions on any subject" he repeated, firmly,
''unless it is to back up their husbands"
Then / won't do it," she said, cheerfully,
determined TO please him as far as possible;
and then she broached one of her foolish am
bitions. Frederick, I want TO be at home on
Wednesdays-do you mind?-or any day you
like but one day week"
''What for?''
ooh, then people will know when to find
me-"
women have nothing TO do; they can take
their chance of finding you any afternoon"
''Yes, but men don't like coming on the
chance. and you know l like talking to artists
and interesting people"
'Nonsensel What can men have to say to
you or you to them? A man doesn't care to
talk to a woman, except out of civility. unless
he is looking out for wife. You have got a
husband" he laughed, land can be content. !"
but YOU like going 10 the clubs some
times, +" she urged. ''If / never see people,
how am TO know about things?"
~ can tell you about anything you want to
know" he answered. 'You have husband
and home. and the children to look after;
quite enough for any sensible woman"
but. Frederick" she said, looking up,
"you must let me live. think you look down
on women, you never talk TO me about anything
now. you seem to think it absurd Of me to think
Of anything beyond the house. You give me
no companionship. and women want it; they
are better educated than they were formerly.
You don't care for going out, and when We
stay at home you read and say nothing to
me-"
''You can read, too"
Yes" she answered, "and you think the
subscription TO Nudes treat to me, and you
let me read my novels as you let the children
play their games. You do not expect the
children to talk of them before you. or me TO
discuss my reading. If l am not to go out
and be amused, and am to stay at home with
out intellectual companIonship of any sort,
what shall become? / shall be like the doc
tors wife, or the lawyers wife, or the par
sons wife. without interests or individuality,
or even intelligence in time"
You must understand. Emily" he said,
firmly, ''tnat women are different from men.
Men have one set of interests. wome have an
other; and a woman should be content with
the dulies and pleasures OF her sex, as man
is content with those OF his. 1 particularly
dislike strong-minded women "
And so do IL hate them. / don't want
the suffrage or to go on platforms or commit
tees or TO see my name In print, but do want
TO know Just a little bit Of what is going on in
the world and want to feel in some measure
that am free still. Perhaps ifyou were very
much in love with me" she said, gently,
and stopped.
Il am too old for that sort of thing" he
answered. ''but if l were what then?'
She was silent for moment; she hoped he
might have answered differently.
III you had been very much in love with me, ="
she said. softly "and with you, dare say
should have loved the most absolute bondage.
But as il is, / feel as IL 1 had taken a post as
housekeeper, and you were M master rather
than my husband. 1 have round of duties
and no power of any sort"
''Nost sensible men are masters in their
own houses" He said it sternly.
'0f course they are; but they give their
wives some rein and let them work out their
own salvation. thought we should be good
companions, going abreast through the world
together. seeing and hearing and discussing
all that was going on about US. That seems
to me like marriage. The husband. ofcourse,
should be the stronger. and If either has to
give way about things 1t should be the woman
except when the man does, as a proof, not
Of his weakness, but of his strength. But
you and /, Frederick. represent, not husband
and wife. bat woman and her master. We
are two people who live in the same house"
Il think this discussion has gone far
enough, Emily. You have your views and l
have mine, and as l am not likely 10 alter
mine you had better reconsider yours. Now
am going to the Office" and he walked out
of the dining-room, put on his coat, brushing
it first with a brush kept in the hatstand, and
took down his hat from the peg.
by the way" he said, coming back to the
dining-roon. phillips, an old friend of mine.
will dine here this evening-dinner at z. as
!
soles, boiled chicken, and apple tart.
"YerY well, DEAR" she said, remembering
that she used to pride herself on being able to
order a dinner, but her pride had been nipped
in the bud. At first she had tried little sur
prises on him-salads Of new design, and sa-
worries, and dainty little dishes of various
sorts. instead of those of the strictly British
and family dinner order. But he had looked
at them doubtfully, and silently refused them.
you might have some boiled custards with
the apple tart, . he added.
VERY well. Good-by," she said. and put
out her had, feeling thai, ss things;had not
been 60 ng very smoothly, he would perhaps
take il as a sign that she was sorry.
"Good-Dyn be said with nod and closed
the street door after himself with a bang
She stood with her back to the fire, leaning
against the corner of the mantel-piece. think
ing. Il suppose the majority of men are like
that when they are married-all, except
few" She looked straight ahead Of her as
if she could see into the future. Hes deadly
dull, - she said. after few minutes. and sat
down in the armchair. II believe shall die
of routine and respectability But it's my
own fault, it's every bit my own fault The
life / have laid out for myself is the sort of
one that countless women live and are salts
fed with, and try to attain and even envy.
This is marriaRei feel as IL my spinstcrhood
had been lovely dream, and had awakened
from il 10 bondage and mess of pottage. If
had only cared for him-but l thought il
would have been so different, that we should
at least, have been comrades; then could
have been content. Iwonder why he married
me? / thought he cared, but his manner was
different three hours after the ceremony as
if he had finished playing part and become
his natural self again with sense OF relief
She was a sensible woman. not given to
grieve over inevitables. so she stood up and
looked at herself in the glass. and felt hap
knew there was power in them, and some
main a prisoner there. Then she looked at
the marble clock on the mantelpiece. "Half-
past ten o'clock" she laughed; ''time to
order dinner. What a stupid old goose be
is-he might have had such a lively time If
he had only been sensible; he is so horribly
afraid Of being henpecked that he won't let
me call my soul my own. / don't believe
care pence for nv husband, though / mar
ried him with the best intentions in the
world, and should have been a treasure If he
had only known how to manage me. Now I'll
order his lordship's dinner, and then go up