“Yes, in some countries they do,—monarchies. There have been a good many women sovereigns. There are a few now.”
“And are they successful rulers?”
“Some are, some are not.”
“The same as men. That proves that your women are not really inferior.”
“Well, I should say not!” I retorted. “Our women are very superior; we treat them more as princesses than as inferiors,—they are angels.”
I was carried away in the heat of resentment, and knew that what I had said was half cant.
“I beg your pardon!” said Severnius quickly; “I got a wrong impression from your statements. I fear I am very stupid. Are they all angels?”
I gave him a furtive glance and saw that he was in earnest. His brows were drawn together with a puzzled look.
I had a sudden vision of a scene in Five Points; several groups of frowsled, petticoated beings, laughing, joking, swearing, quarreling, fighting, and drinking beer from dirty mugs.
“No, not all of them,” I replied, smiling. “That was a figure of speech. There are so many classes.”