"A man ought to be master in his own house," said one.
"That applies to the kitchen as well as to the nursery," said another. "A woman who makes her husband manage the children will make him manage the servants."
"Well, some do."
"The more shame to them."
"It's rather hard upon a man when he comes home at night, hoping for a smile from his wife, and a romp with his boys, to see an anxious wrinkle on her brow, and hear her say:
"'O, John, I am so thankful you have come! There's Tom won't take his powders, and I can do nothing with him! And Sue has stolen and eaten four slices of cake. Four slices! Just think of it! And Hatty struck her nurse twice, and nurse says she'll leave.'"
Everybody laughed, and everybody had something to say.
"Why, of course such a woman as that has no force of character," said Cyril Heath. "Really sensible women do not behave in that way."
"And really good ones do not have children who are disobedient, who steal cake, and strike their nurses," said Mrs. Grey.