"Yes," said Mrs. Duckie, without the faintest trace of mercy. "And what about bringing up--education and so forth?" "Oh, Mrs. Falconer will do that beautifully," said this vixen. "I couldn't think of a better mother." I was struck dumb for a while. Here was an attitude for a woman (and one's old landlady too, thus aggravating the offence) to take up to a lord of creation! "So you don't think husbands are any other use?" I asked at last. "They bring in the money, of course," she replied, "but that's all. They don't really help with the children--not most of them don't. A few, yes, but even those very likely are only a bother, when all's said, and in your case there's enough money already." No need to say that I was glad when she had gone; but when I peeped into Naomi's room and the nurse (who used to be a nice woman) hushed me sternly away, my spirits sank again. I walked out into Regent's Park and sat down and thought about it. City men in tall hats were hastening home. "Foolish to be in such a hurry," I said; "you're not wanted. Homes are for women. Leave the money for the rent and the butcher and get out again." Nurses and mothers were here and there with their charges. "Ladies," I said, "I salute you. Permit one who could die to-morrow, if he liked, without being missed, to bid you farewell. Not, however, that your reign is much longer than mine--but a little longer. Wait till those babies are of age and see then how much you are needed!" Children were playing all about. "To you," I said, apostrophizing them at large, "is the earth and the fulness thereof. It is for you that all Nature is working, but only that you may work for her, for she does nothing for nothing. In a few years' time you too will be fathers and mothers under sentence, like me. So play on and be happy while you can."