"I mean that not one has ever done anything really productive in her life—has added anything to the world's supply of necessities," he continued with masculine arrogance.
"Oh?" Milly protested.
"Not even children!" he added triumphantly, and glanced at the names on his programme. "I don't believe they could produce a child among 'em."
Milly knew that the women speakers of the evening happened all to be childless women. One of them was not married, another was a widow, a third separated from her husband, and of the others at least one—Hazel—had deliberately evaded maternity.
"That may not be their fault!" Milly retorted with meaning.
"True," the man admitted. "But I'd like to hear something on the question from Mothers."
"Having children isn't the only thing women are good for," Milly suggested.
"It's one mighty fine thing, though!"
(Milly could never understand why men, as a rule, were so enthusiastic over women who had children.)
"Aren't we getting away from the subject?" she suggested.