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clutching in his right hand one of the obnoxious bills。 He crumpled it up；
and threw it into the roadway。
〃I'll be hanged if I go； Walker；〃 said he； as be resumed his walk。 〃I've
never been hustled into doing a thing yet； whether by woman or man。〃
〃I am not a betting man；〃 answered the Doctor； 〃but I rather think that
the odds are in favor of your going。〃
The Admiral had hardly got home； and had just seated himself in his
dining…room； when the attack upon him was renewed。 He was slowly
and lovingly unfolding the Times preparatory to the long read which led
up to luncheon； and had even got so far as to fasten his golden pince…nez
on to his thin； high…bridged nose； when he heard a crunching of gravel；
and； looking over the top of his paper； saw Mrs。 Westmacott coming up
the garden walk。 She was still dressed in the singular costume which
offended the sailor's old…fashioned notions of propriety； but he could not
deny； as he looked at her； that she was a very fine woman。 In many
climes he had looked upon women of all shades and ages； but never upon
a more clearcut； handsome face； nor a more erect； supple； and womanly
figure。 He ceased to glower as he gazed upon her； and the frown
smoothed away from his rugged brow。
〃May I come in？〃 said she； framing herself in the open window； with a
background of green sward and blue sky。 〃I feel like an invader deep in
an enemy's country。〃
〃It is a very welcome invasion； ma'am；〃 said he； clearing his throat and
pulling at his high collar。 〃Try this garden chair。 What is there that I
can do for you？ Shall I ring and let Mrs。 Denver know that you are
here？〃
〃Pray do not trouble； Admiral。 I only looked in with reference to our
little chat this morning。 I wish that you would give us your powerful
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support at our coming meeting for the improvement of the condition of
woman。〃
〃No； ma'am； I can't do that。〃 He pursed up his lips and shook his
grizzled head。
〃And why not？〃
〃Against my principles； ma'am。〃
〃But why？〃
〃Because woman has her duties and man has his。 I may be old…
fashioned； but that is my view。 Why； what is the world coming to？ I
was saying to Dr。 Walker only last night that we shall have a woman
wanting to command the Channel Fleet next。〃
〃That is one of the few professions which cannot be improved；〃 said
Mrs。 Westmacott； with her sweetest smile。 〃Poor woman must still look
to man for protection。〃
〃I don't like these new…fangled ideas； ma'am。 I tell you honestly that
I don't。 I like discipline； and I think every one is the better for it。
Women have got a great deal which they had not in the days of our fathers。
They have universities all for themselves； I am told； and there are women
doctors； I hear。 Surely they should rest contented。 What more can they
want？〃
〃You are a sailor； and sailors are always chivalrous。 If you could see
how things really are； you would change your opinion。 What are the poor
things to do？ There are so many of them and so few things to which they
can turn their hands。 Governesses？ But there are hardly any situations。
Music and drawing？ There is not one in fifty who has any special talent
in that direction。 Medicine？ It is still surrounded with difficulties for
women； and it takes many years and a small fortune to qualify。 Nursing？
It is hard work ill paid； and none but the strongest can stand it。 What
would you have them do then； Admiral？ Sit down and starve？〃
〃Tut； tut！ It is not so bad as that。〃
〃The pressure is terrible。 Advertise for a lady companion at ten
shillings a week； which is less than a cook's wage； and see how many
answers you get。 There is no hope； no outlook； for these struggling
thousands。 Life is a dull； sordid struggle； leading down to a cheerless old
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age。 Yet when we try to bring some little ray of hope； some chance；
however distant； of something better； we are told by chivalrous gentlemen
that it is against their principles to help。〃
The Admiral winced； but shook his head in dissent。
〃There is banking； the law； veterinary surgery； government offices； the
civil service； all these at least should be thrown freely open to women； if
they have brains enough to compete successfully for them。 Then if
woman were unsuccessful it would be her own fault； and the majority of
the population of this country could no longer complain that they live
under a different law to the minority； and that they are held down in
poverty and serfdom； with every road to independence sealed to them。〃
〃What would you propose to do； ma'am？〃
〃To set the more obvious injustices right； and so to pave the way for a
reform。 Now look at that man digging in the field。 I know him。 He
can neither read nor write； he is steeped in whisky； and he has as much
intelligence as the potatoes that he is digging。 Yet the man has a vote；
can possibly turn the scale of an election； and may help to decide the
policy of this empire。 Now； to take the nearest example； here am I； a
woman who have had some education； who have traveled； and who have
seen and studied the institutions of many countries。 I hold considerable
property； and I pay more in imperial taxes than that man spends in whisky；
which is saying a great deal； and yet I have no more direct influence upon
the disposal of the money which I pay than that fly which creeps along the
wall。 Is that right？ Is it fair？〃
The Admiral moved uneasily in his chair。 〃Yours is an exceptional
case；〃 said he。
〃But no woman has a voice。 Consider that the women are a majority
in the nation。 Yet if there was a question of legislation upon which all
women were agreed upon one side and all the men upon the other； it
would appear that the matter was settl