"
"The insolent puppy," muttered Madam Bowker. "I've always detested
him."
"You don't want me to marry him?"
"On the contrary," the old lady replied. "He would make the best
possible husband for you." She smiled like a grand inquisitor at
prospect of a pleasant day with rack and screw. "He needs a firm
hand," said she.
Margaret burst out laughing at this implied compliment to herself;
then she colored as with shame and turned away. "What frauds we
women are!" she exclaimed. "If I had any sense of decency left,
I'd be ashamed to do it!"
"There you go again!" cried her grandmother. "You can't be
practical five minutes in succession. Why should a woman be
ashamed to do a man a service in spite of himself? Men are fools
where women are concerned. I never knew one that was not. And the
more sensible they are in other respects, the bigger fools they
are about us! Left to themselves, they always make a mess of
marriage. They think they know what they want, but they don't. We
have to teach them. A man needs a firm hand during courtship, and
a firmer hand after marriage. So many wives forget their duty and
relax. If you don't take hold of that young Arkwright, he'll no
doubt fall a victim to some unscrupulous hussy.
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