English
ItwasthehabitoftheDoctorandtheAdmiraltoaccompanyeachotheruponamorningramblebetweenbreakfastandlunch.
Thedwellersinthosequiettree-linedroadswereaccustomedtoseethetwofigures,thelong,thin,austereseaman,andtheshort,bustling,tweed-cladphysician,passandrepasswithsuchregularitythatastoppedclockhasbeenresetbythem.
TheAdmiraltooktwostepstohiscompanion’sthree,buttheyoungermanwasthequicker,andbothwereequaltoagoodfourandahalfmilesanhour.
Itwasalovelysummerdaywhichfollowedtheeventswhichhavebeendescribed.
Theskywasofthedeepestblue,withafewwhite,fleecycloudsdriftinglazilyacrossit,andtheairwasfilledwiththelowdroneofinsectsorwithasuddensharpernoteasbeeorblueflyshotpastwithitsquivering,long-drawnhum,likeaninsecttuning-fork.
AsthefriendstoppedeachrisewhichleadsuptotheCrystalPalace,theycouldseetheduncloudsofLondonstretchingalongthenorthernskyline,withspireordomebreakingthroughthelow-lyinghaze.
TheAdmiralwasinhighspirits,forthemorningposthadbroughtgoodnewstohisson.
“Itiswonderful,Walker,”hewassaying,“positivelywonderful,thewaythatboyofminehasgoneaheadduringthelastthreeyears.WeheardfromPearsonto-day.
Pearsonistheseniorpartner,youknow,andmyboythejunior—PearsonandDenverthefirm.
CunningolddogisPearson,ascuteandasgreedyasaRioshark.
Yethegoesoffforafortnight’sleave,andputsmyboyinfullcharge,withallthatimmensebusinessinhishands,andafreehandtodowhathelikeswithit.
How’sthatforconfidence,andheonlythreeyearsupon‘Change?”
“Anyonewouldconfideinhim.Hisfaceisasurety,”saidtheDoctor.
“Goon,Walker!”TheAdmiraldughiselbowathim.“Youknowmyweakside.Stillit’struthallthesame.
I’vebeenblessedwithagoodwifeandagoodson,andmaybeIrelishthemthemoreforhavingbeencutofffromthemsolong.Ihavemuchtobethankfulfor!”
“AndsohaveI.Thebesttwogirlsthateverstepped.
There’sClara,whohaslearnedupasmuchmedicineaswouldgivehertheL.S.A.,simplyinorderthatshemaysympathizewithmeinmywork.Buthullo,whatisthiscomingalong?”
“Alldrawingandthewindastern!”criedtheAdmiral.“Fourteenknotsifit’sone.Why,byGeorge,itisthatwoman!”
Arollingcloudofyellowdusthadstreamedroundthecurveoftheroad,andfromtheheartofithademergedahightandemtricycleflyingalongatabreakneckpace.
InfrontsatMrs.Westmacottcladinaheathertweedpea-jacket,askirtwhichjust{?}
passedherkneesandapairofthickgaitersofthesamematerial.
Shehadagreatbundleofredpapersunderherarm,whileCharles,whosatbehindhercladinNorfolkjacketandknickerbockers,boreasimilarrollprotrudingfromeitherpocket.
Evenastheywatched,thepaireasedup,theladysprangoff,impaledoneofherbillsuponthegardenrailingofanemptyhouse,andthenjumpingontoherseatagainwasabouttohurryonwardswhenhernephewdrewherattentiontothetwogentlemenuponthefootpath.
“Oh,now,reallyIdidn’tnoticeyou,”saidshe,takingafewturnsofthetreadleandsteeringthemachineacrosstothem.“Isitnotabeautifulmorning?”
“Lovely,”answeredtheDoctor.“Youseemtobeverybusy.”
“Iamverybusy.”Shepointedtothecoloredpaperwhichstillflutteredfromtherailing.
“Wehavebeenpushingourpropaganda,yousee.
CharlesandIhavebeenatitsinceseveno’clock.Itisaboutourmeeting.Iwishittobeagreatsuccess.See!”
Shesmoothedoutoneofthebills,andtheDoctorreadhisownnameingreatblacklettersacrossthebottom.
“Wedon’tforgetourchairman,yousee.Everybodyiscoming.
Thosetwodearlittleoldmaidsopposite,theWilliamses,heldoutforsometime;butIhavetheirpromisenow.
Admiral,Iamsurethatyouwishuswell.”
“Hum!Iwishyounoharm,ma’am.”
“Youwillcomeontheplatform?”
“I’llbe——No,Idon’tthinkIcandothat.”
“Toourmeeting,then?”
“No,ma’am;Idon’tgooutafterdinner.”
“Ohyes,youwillcome.IwillcallinifImay,andchatitoverwithyouwhenyoucomehome.Wehavenotbreakfastedyet.Goodbye!”
Therewasawhirofwheels,andtheyellowcloudrolledawaydowntheroadagain.
BysomelegerdemaintheAdmiralfoundthathewasclutchinginhisrighthandoneoftheobnoxiousbills.
Hecrumpleditup,andthrewitintotheroadway.
“I’llbehangedifIgo,Walker,”saidhe,asheresumedhiswalk.“I’veneverbeenhustledintodoingathingyet,whetherbywomanorman.”
“Iamnotabettingman,”answeredtheDoctor,“butIratherthinkthattheoddsareinfavorofyourgoing.”
TheAdmiralhadhardlygothome,andhadjustseatedhimselfinhisdining-room,whentheattackuponhimwasrenewed.
HewasslowlyandlovinglyunfoldingtheTimespreparatorytothelongreadwhichleduptoluncheon,andhadevengotsofarastofastenhisgoldenpince-nezontohisthin,high-bridgednose,whenheheardacrunchingofgravel,and,lookingoverthetopofhispaper,sawMrs.Westmacottcomingupthegardenwalk.
Shewasstilldressedinthesingularcostumewhichoffendedthesailor’sold-fashionednotionsofpropriety,buthecouldnotdeny,ashelookedather,thatshewasaveryfinewoman.
Inmanyclimeshehadlookeduponwomenofallshadesandages,butneveruponamoreclearcut,handsomeface,noramoreerect,supple,andwomanlyfigure.
Heceasedtoglowerashegazeduponher,andthefrownsmoothedawayfromhisruggedbrow.
“MayIcomein?”saidshe,framingherselfintheopenwindow,withabackgroundofgreenswardandbluesky.“Ifeellikeaninvaderdeepinanenemy’scountry.”
apictureofthecountryside
“Itisaverywelcomeinvasion,ma’am,”saidhe,clearinghisthroatandpullingathishighcollar.“Trythisgardenchair.WhatistherethatIcandoforyou?
ShallIringandletMrs.Denverknowthatyouarehere?”
“Praydonottrouble,Admiral.Ionlylookedinwithreferencetoourlittlechatthismorning.
Iwishthatyouwouldgiveusyourpowerfulsupportatourcomingmeetingfortheimprovementoftheconditionofwoman.”
“No,ma’am,Ican’tdothat.”Hepurseduphislipsandshookhisgrizzledhead.
“Andwhynot?”
“Againstmyprinciples,ma’am.”
“Butwhy?”
“Becausewomanhasherdutiesandmanhashis.
Imaybeold-fashioned,butthatismyview.Why,whatistheworldcomingto?
IwassayingtoDr.WalkeronlylastnightthatweshallhaveawomanwantingtocommandtheChannelFleetnext.”
“Thatisoneofthefewprofessionswhichcannotbeimproved,”saidMrs.Westmacott,withhersweetestsmile.“Poorwomanmuststilllooktomanforprotection.”
“Idon’tlikethesenew-fangledideas,ma’am.ItellyouhonestlythatIdon’t.
Ilikediscipline,andIthinkeveryoneisthebetterforit.
Womenhavegotagreatdealwhichtheyhadnotinthedaysofourfathers.
Theyhaveuniversitiesallforthemselves,Iamtold,andtherearewomendoctors,Ihear.Surelytheyshouldrestcontented.Whatmorecantheywant?”
“Youareasailor,andsailorsarealwayschivalrous.
Ifyoucouldseehowthingsreallyare,youwouldchangeyouropinion.Whatarethepoorthingstodo?
Therearesomanyofthemandsofewthingstowhichtheycanturntheirhands.Governesses?Buttherearehardlyanysituations.Musicanddrawing?
Thereisnotoneinfiftywhohasanyspecialtalentinthatdirection.Medicine?
Itisstillsurroundedwithdifficultiesforwomen,andittakesmanyyearsandasmallfortunetoqualify.Nursing?
Itishardworkillpaid,andnonebutthestrongestcanstandit.
Whatwouldyouhavethemdothen,Admiral?Sitdownandstarve?”
“Tut,tut!Itisnotsobadasthat.”
“Thepressureisterrible.Advertiseforaladycompanionattenshillingsaweek,whichislessthanacook’swage,andseehowmanyanswersyouget.
Thereisnohope,nooutlook,forthesestrugglingthousands.
Lifeisadull,sordidstruggle,leadingdowntoacheerlessoldage.
Yetwhenwetrytobringsomelittlerayofhope,somechance,howeverdistant,ofsomethingbetter,wearetoldbychivalrousgentlementhatitisagainsttheirprinciplestohelp.”
TheAdmiralwinced,butshookhisheadindissent.
“Thereisbanking,thelaw,veterinarysurgery,governmentoffices,thecivilservice,alltheseatleastshouldbethrownfreelyopentowomen,iftheyhavebrainsenoughtocompetesuccessfullyforthem.
Thenifwomanwereunsuccessfulitwouldbeherownfault,andthemajorityofthepopulationofthiscountrycouldnolongercomplainthattheyliveunderadifferentlawtotheminority,andthattheyarehelddowninpovertyandserfdom,witheveryroadtoindependencesealedtothem.”
“Whatwouldyouproposetodo,ma’am?”
“Tosetthemoreobviousinjusticesright,andsotopavethewayforareform.
Nowlookatthatmandigginginthefield.Iknowhim.
Hecanneitherreadnorwrite,heissteepedinwhisky,andhehasasmuchintelligenceasthepotatoesthatheisdigging.
Yetthemanhasavote,canpossiblyturnthescaleofanelection,andmayhelptodecidethepolicyofthisempire.
Now,totakethenearestexample,hereamI,awomanwhohavehadsomeeducation,whohavetraveled,andwhohaveseenandstudiedtheinstitutionsofmanycountries.
Iholdconsiderableproperty,andIpaymoreinimperialtaxesthanthatmanspendsinwhisky,whichissayingagreatdeal,andyetIhavenomoredirectinfluenceuponthedisposalofthemoneywhichIpaythanthatflywhichcreepsalongthewall.Isthatright?Isitfair?”
TheAdmiralmoveduneasilyinhischair.“Yoursisanexceptionalcase,”saidhe.
“Butnowomanhasavoice.Considerthatthewomenareamajorityinthenation.
Yetiftherewasaquestionoflegislationuponwhichallwomenwereagreedupononesideandallthemenupontheother,itwouldappearthatthematterwassettledunanimouslywhenmorethanhalfthepopulationwereopposedtoit.Isthatright?”
AgaintheAdmiralwriggled.Itwasveryawkwardforthegallantseamantohaveahandsomewomanoppositetohim,bombardinghimwithquestionstononeofwhichhecouldfindananswer.
“Couldn’tevengetthetompionsoutofhisguns,”asheexplainedthemattertotheDoctorthatevening.
“Nowthosearereallythepointsthatweshalllaystressuponatthemeeting.
Thefreeandcompleteopeningoftheprofessions,thefinalabolitionofthezenanaIcallit,andthefranchisetoallwomenwhopayQueen’staxesaboveacertainsum.
Surelythereisnothingunreasonableinthat.
Nothingwhichcouldoffendyourprinciples.
Weshallhavemedicine,law,andthechurchallrallyingthatnightfortheprotectionofwoman.
Isthenavytobetheoneprofessionabsent?”
TheAdmiraljumpedoutofhischairwithanevilwordinhisthroat.“There,there,ma’am,”hecried.“Dropitforatime.Ihaveheardenough.You’veturnedmeapointortwo.Iwon’tdenyit.Butletitstandatthat.Iwillthinkitover.”
“Certainly,Admiral.Wewouldnothurryyouinyourdecision.
Butwestillhopetoseeyouonourplatform.”
Sheroseandmovedaboutinherloungingmasculinefashionfromonepicturetoanother,forthewallswerethicklycoveredwithreminiscencesoftheAdmiral’svoyages.
“Hullo!”saidshe.“Surelythisshipwouldhavefurledallherlowercanvasandreefedhertopsailsifshefoundherselfonaleeshorewiththewindonherquarter.”
“Ofcourseshewould.TheartistwasneverpastGravesend,Iswear.
It’sthePenelopeasshewasonthe14thofJune,1857,inthethroatoftheStraitsofBanca,withtheIslandofBancaonthestarboardbow,andSumatraontheport.
Hepainteditfromdescription,butofcourse,asyouverysensiblysay,allwassnugbelowandshecarriedstormsailsanddouble-reefedtopsails,foritwasblowingacyclonefromthesou’east.Icomplimentyou,ma’am,Idoindeed!”
“Oh,Ihavedonealittlesailoringmyself—asmuchasawomancanaspireto,youknow.ThisistheBayofFunchal.Whatalovelyfrigate!”
“Lovely,yousay!Ah,shewaslovely!ThatistheAndromeda.Iwasamateaboardofher—sub-lieutenanttheycallitnow,thoughIliketheoldnamebest.”
“Whatalovelyrakehermastshave,andwhatacurvetoherbows!Shemusthavebeenaclipper.”
Theoldsailorrubbedhishandsandhiseyesglistened.Hisoldshipsborderedcloseuponhiswifeandhissoninhisaffections.
“IknowFunchal,”saidtheladycarelessly.“AcoupleofyearsagoIhadaseven-toncutter-riggedyacht,theBanshee,andweranovertoMadeirafromFalmouth.”
“Youma’am,inaseven-tonner?”
“WithacoupleofCornishladsforacrew.Oh,itwasglorious!
Afortnightrightoutintheopen,withnoworries,noletters,nocallers,nopettythoughts,nothingbutthegrandworksofGod,thetossingseaandthegreatsilentsky.
Theytalkofriding,indeed,Iamfondofhorses,too,butwhatistheretocomparewiththeswoopofalittlecraftasshepitchesdownthelongsteepsideofawave,andthenthequiverandspringassheistossedupwardsagain?
Oh,ifoursoulscouldtransmigrateI’dbeaseamewaboveallbirdsthatfly!ButIkeepyou,Admiral.Adieu!”
Theoldsailorwastootransportedwithsympathytosayaword.
Hecouldonlyshakeherbroadmuscularhand.
Shewashalf-waydownthegardenpathbeforesheheardhimcallingher,andsawhisgrizzledheadandweather-stainedfacelookingoutfrombehindthecurtains.
“Youmayputmedownfortheplatform,”hecried,andvanishedabashedbehindthecurtainofhisTimes,wherehiswifefoundhimatlunchtime.
“IhearthatyouhavehadquitealongchatwithMrs.Westmacott,”saidshe.
“Yes,andIthinkthatsheisoneofthemostsensiblewomenthatIeverknew.”
“Exceptonthewoman’srightsquestion,ofcourse.”
“Oh,Idon’tknow.Shehadagooddealtosayforherselfonthatalso.Infact,mother,Ihavetakenaplatformticketforhermeeting.”
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