"And it seems just as true of any other laws, even if he did mean the Jewish, Dick," Stephen ended.
"Don't lots of husbands, tied up just as tight as anything or anybody can tie them, cut loose and run away just the same?" asked Tora.
"And wives," added Winnie—who had done it, and had a right to speak.
"It's like the old dispute about the franchise and the agricultural labourer. I remember my father telling me about it somewhere in the eighties—when I was quite a small boy. One side said the labourer oughtn't to have the vote till he was fit for it, the other said he'd never be fit for it till he had it."
"Oh, well, that's to some extent like the woman question," Tora remarked.
"Are we to change the law first or people first? Hope a better law will make better people, or tell the people they can't have a better law till they're better themselves?"
"Stephen, you've a glimmer of sense in you this afternoon."
"Well, Dick, we don't want to end by merely making things easier for brutes and curs—male or female."
"I think you're a little wanting in the broad view to-day, Stephen. You're too much affected by Winnie's particular case. Isn't it better to get rid of brutes and curs anyhow? The quicker and easier, the better." Tora was, as usual, uncompromising.
"Everybody seems to put a good point. That's the puzzle," said Stephen, who was obviously enjoying the puzzle very much.