Ella very thoughtfully collected a little of this fruit for Bob, when we chanced to meet with a tree bearing figs of a superior flavour to the average, and I promised her that on our return I would secure a few cocoa-nuts, and treat her to a draught of the delightfully refreshing cool new milk. We found walking to be far more fatiguing than we had expected, after being pent up so long on shipboard, and I think I found it even more so than my companion, she having had until recently the comparatively wide range of a ship’s deck upon which to take exercise; whilst we of the Water Lily could only boast of “a fisherman’s walk, two steps, and overboard.”
I kept a sharp look-out for fresh water, intending to entirely refill our tank and casks; and Ella was equally anxious for such a discovery, as she gave me notice that she intended to hold a grand wash; desiring me, at the same time, to make up a bundle of all my soiled linen, etc., and deliver it over to her. This I, of course, flatly refused to do, assuring her that I was fully equal to the task of doing my own washing, and that I never would consent to her descending to the performance of so menial a task for me.
“What!” said she, releasing my arm to speak with the greater energy, “not allow me to wash a few shirts and socks for you, and your pocket-handkerchiefs? Indeed, but you must; it is woman’s peculiar province to wash clothes. Men never wash properly: they either half do it or else beat to pieces whatever they may be washing in the vain endeavour to properly purify it. Now you must let me have my own way just this once, please.”
I still refused, and added laughingly: “It seems to me to be a part of your creed that ‘it is woman’s peculiar province’ to do certain things for men; and that, if she is not at hand to do it, it cannot be done at all, or at all events in a satisfactory manner. I remember your urging the plea that ‘it is woman’s peculiar province’ to cook, as a means whereby to gain my consent to your taking charge of that department; and very grateful am I to you for so doing, for we have enjoyed our meals as we never did before; but as to your doing any washing but your own, I cannot and will not consent to it.”
“But why not?” she persisted. “Woman was created as a help-meet for man; and I am sure you will admit that our sex is more thoroughly qualified for the performance of certain duties than is man; and, where that is distinctly the case, it seems to me to point naturally to the conclusion that such duties form a part of her share of the work necessary for the comfort and happiness of the race. Of course I would not offer to wash for you or for myself, if we were in a large ship and with proper servants to do such work; but in our present circumstances I see nothing whatever of a menial or degrading character in it.”
“Perhaps not,” I replied. “I cannot enter quite so deeply as you do into the question. I can only say that the idea is too repugnant for me to consent to any such division of the ‘necessary work’ so please say no more about it, for my mind is made up, and I can be as stubborn as Bob himself upon occasion.”
“I quite believe you,” she retorted, half playfully and half disposed to be angry, “though I do not consider Bob stubborn at all. He always lets me do whatever I like; and what an original character he is. Do you know, I quite admire him. He is somewhat rough and unpolished, I admit, but he is as gentle to me as was my own dear mamma; and I hold to the opinion that a man who is gentle and courteous to women is a man of sterling worth, let his manner be as uncouth as it may. I believe that gentleness and courtesy to our sex is the first and most distinguishing mark of nature’s nobility. But why do you permit him to be so familiar and disrespectful in his manner of addressing you?”
“I do not consider him in the slightest decree disrespectful,” I replied. “He is much older than I am, and a man of far wider experience, at all events in all matters connected with our profession; and that, and our long and severely-tried friendship, abundantly justifies the familiarity of his mode of address. I dislike formality with every one except strangers. It is all very well as a means of keeping at a distance those you dislike and have no desire to become intimate with, but it is a rather formidable barrier to friendship.”
“So I think, responded Ella with animation. I do so wish—”
“What?” I inquired. She hesitated a little and blushed a great deal, and then, apparently with some effort, replied: