第11章

The woman, in acting selfishly, is assisting Nature's plans.In olden days she chose her mate for his strength.She, possibly enough, thought only of herself; he could best provide for her then simple wants, best guard her from the disagreeable accidents of nomadic life.But Nature, unseen, directing her, was thinking of the savage brood needing still more a bold protector.Wealth now is the substitute for strength.The rich man is the strong man.The woman's heart unconsciously goes out to him.""Do men never marry for money?" inquired the Girton Girl."I ask merely for information.Maybe I have been misinformed, but I have heard of countries where the dot is considered of almost more importance than the bride.""The German officer," I ventured to strike in, "is literally on sale.Young lieutenants are most expensive, and even an elderly colonel costs a girl a hundred thousand marks.""You mean," corrected the Minor Poet, "costs her father.The Continental husband demands a dowry with his wife, and sees that he gets it.He in his turn has to save and scrape for years to provide each of his daughters with the necessary dot.It comes to the same thing precisely.Your argument could only apply were woman equally with man a wealth producer.As it is, a woman's wealth is invariably the result of a marriage, either her own or that of some shrewd ancestress.And as regards the heiress, the principle of sale and purchase, if I may be forgiven the employment of common terms, is still more religiously enforced.It is not often that the heiress is given away; stolen she may be occasionally, much to the indignation of Lord Chancellors and other guardians of such property; the thief is very properly punished--imprisoned, if need be.If handed over legitimately, her price is strictly exacted, not always in money--that she possesses herself, maybe in sufficiency;it enables her to bargain for other advantages no less serviceable to her children--for title, place, position.In the same way the Neolithic woman, herself of exceptional strength and ferocity, may have been enabled to bestow a thought upon her savage lover's beauty, his prehistoric charm of manner; thus in other directions no less necessary assisting the development of the race.""I cannot argue with you," said the Old Maid."I know one case.

They were both poor; it would have made no difference to her, but it did to him.Maybe I am wrong, but it seems to me that, as you say, our instincts are given us to guide us.I do not know.The future is not in our hands; it does not belong to us.Perhaps it were wiser to listen to the voices that are sent to us.""I remember a case, also," said the Woman of the World.She had risen to prepare the tea, and was standing with her back to us.

'Like the woman you speak of, she was poor, but one of the sweetest creatures I have ever known.I cannot help thinking it would have been good for the world had she been a mother.""My dear lady," cried the Minor Poet, "you help me!""I always do, according to you," laughed the Woman of the World."Iappear to resemble the bull that tossed the small boy high into the apple-tree he had been trying all the afternoon to climb.""It is very kind of you," answered the Minor Poet."My argument is that woman is justified in regarding marriage as the end of her existence, the particular man as but a means.The woman you speak of acted selfishly, rejecting the crown of womanhood because not tendered to her by hands she had chosen.""You would have us marry without love?" asked the Girton Girl.

"With love, if possible," answered the Minor Poet; "without, rather than not at all.It is the fulfilment of the woman's law.""You would make of us goods and chattels," cried the Girton Girl.

"I would make of you what you are," returned the Minor Poet, "the priestesses of Nature's temple, leading man to the worship of her mysteries.An American humorist has described marriage as the craving of some young man to pay for some young woman's board and lodging.There is no escaping from this definition; let us accept it.It is beautiful--so far as the young man is concerned.He sacrifices himself, deprives himself, that he may give.That is love.But from the woman's point of view? If she accept thinking only of herself, then it is a sordid bargain on her part.To understand her, to be just to her, we must look deeper.Not sexual, but maternal love is her kingdom.She gives herself not to her lover, but through her lover to the great Goddess of the Myriad Breasts that shadows ever with her guardian wings Life from the outstretched hand of Death.""She may be a nice enough girl from Nature's point of view," said the Old Maid; "personally, I shall never like her."