Jim. Insist, did you say, sir? Insist? Why, sir, I have to get down on my marrow bones, sir, and then she ain't satisfied!
Dr. E. But what does she wish you to do?
Jim. I'll tell you what she wants, sir. She wants me to give up the dignity of my sex.
Dr. E. (surprised). I fear I do not quite understand.
Jim. She wants me to acknowledge that I am a fool, sir; nothing will content her but my admitting I am a perfect fool.
Dr. E. That is very strange.
Jim. You see, she thinks it her duty to sit down on me! just to show she ain't inferior, you know.
Dr. E. I am afraid she and you also have gone to the two extremes of an idea. Now I do not believe you would wish to exercise any undue authority over her.
Jim. Authority? over Jennie? No, indeed, sir, and to tell you the truth, I don't believe there is any fellow alive who could do it and live.
Dr. E. I have more faith in Jennie than to believe she would really like a man who was inferior to herself. I think she adopts that tone as a safeguard because she has a misgiving that the masculine instinct is to assert itself over the feminine. But if you give her to understand that as far as you are concerned she is wrong, I think there will be no trouble.