“I am far more likely,” he replied, “to purchase a very nice little cane, and give her an exemplary thrashing.”
“Oh! Oh!”
“Upon my word, I see no reason against it! That’s how I should deal with a man who talked about me in this way, and none the less if he were a puny creature quite unable to protect himself. In that furious scene before we got Tom away I felt most terribly tempted to beat her. There’s a great deal to be said for woman-beating. I am quite sure that many a labouring man who pommels his wife is doing exactly the right thing; no other measure would have the least result. You see what comes of impunity. If this woman saw the possibility that I should give her a public caning she would be far more careful how she behaved herself. Let us ask Miss Nunn’s opinion.”
Rhoda had that moment entered the room. She offered her hand frankly, and asked what the subject was.
“Glance over this letter,” said Barfoot. “Oh, you have seen it. I propose to get a light, supple, dandyish cane, and to give Mrs. Thomas Barfoot half a dozen smart cuts across the back in her own drawing-room, some afternoon when people were present. What have you to say to it?”
He spoke with such show of angry seriousness that Rhoda paused before replying.
“I sympathized with you,” she said at length, “but I don’t think I would go to that extremity.”
Everard repeated the argument he had used to his cousin.
“You are quite right,” Rhoda assented. “I think many women deserve to be beaten, and ought to be beaten. But public opinion would be so much against you.”
“What do I care? So is public opinion against you.”