“Don’t you blame the institution of marriage with what is chargeable to human fate? A vain and miserable life is the lot of nearly all mortals. Most women, whether they marry or not, will suffer and commit endless follies.”
“Most women—as life is at present arranged for them. Things are changing, and we try to have our part in hastening a new order.”
“Ah, we use words in a different sense. I speak of human nature, not of the effect of institutions.”
“Now it is you who are unpractical. Those views lead only to pessimism and paralysis of effort.”
Miss Barfoot rose.
“I give in to your objection against bringing the girl back to work here. I will help her in other ways. It’s quite true that she isn’t to be relied upon.”
“Impossible to trust her in any detail of life. The pity is that her degradation can’t be used as an object lesson for our other girls.”
“There again we differ. You are quite mistaken in your ideas of how the mind is influenced. The misery of Bella Royston would not in the least affect any other girl’s way of thinking about the destiny of her sex. We must avoid exaggeration. If our friends get to think of us as fanatics, all our usefulness is over. The ideal we set up must be human. Do you think now that we know one single girl who in her heart believes it is better never to love and never to marry?”
“Perhaps not,” admitted Rhoda, more cheerful now that she had gained her point. “But we know several who will not dream of marrying unless reason urges them as strongly as inclination.”
Miss Barfoot laughed.