“I am going to get him for you, if I can. Do you like him?”
Maud spoke slowly, weighing her words.
“Liking is too neutral for Martin Steele; it is either love or hate; I think I hate him.” She gave a quick glance into the mirror as they went down to dinner.
The men were waiting in the parlor. Martin was ill at ease; he felt like a waiter in evening dress. Floyd wore it differently; he melted into it. Maud as the guest of honor was charming. All laughed heartily at her frank admissions, and keen enjoyment of the fruits so long forbidden.
“We’ve got a free hand. Politically, economically; the right to work—”
“You can have it,” interrupted Martin. “I’ll give you my share.”
“But we want more—Moral Equality.”
“Isn’t that a step backward?” said Floyd. “Until now, women were supposed to be morally superior to men.”
“Why should they be? Equal rights is all we want. We are no longer going to be ‘cast out’ for acting naturally.”
Martin took up the gauntlet.