“And she usually is,” said Priscilla. “I have sometimes felt that it was very horrid of me to play that trick upon that odious Mr. Kelton. Who am I that I should set myself up to avenge his insults in regard to Mr. Tutt? I have heard a little voice whispering in my ear.” “You were quite right. Besides--” here Rosa made a little pause--“besides, haven’t you very good reason to--to--well, I meant that you were very badly treated by men, Priscilla dear.” “Only by one man,” said Priscilla quickly. “Only by one.” “And isn’t that enough? It’s a shame that one man should have it in his power to wreck the life of a girl.” “It does seem to be a shame. But what’s the good of complaining? A woman has always been the bearer of burdens, and if she complains she is treated worse than ever. I’m not sure that in the old days--before there was any thought of convention or religion, which is only another form of convention--a woman was much better off than she is now. To be sure, when she found that she had married the wrong man she had it in her power to run away with the right one, or the nearest approach to the right one that she could find. I have now and again wondered during the past year why I shouldn’t run away to another man and try to patch up this wrecked life of mine.” “Why shouldn’t you? It would only be fair and just; but you never would do it, Priscilla.” “Why should I not? I believe that I would do it if only the right man turned up.” “If he would let you do it he would not be the-right man.” “I’m not so sure of that. The best men--the greatest men--the bravest--the cleverest--the most devout men have never been over-particular when it came to a question of women. I believe if I were really to fall in love with a man I would do as so many of the best women in the world have done--I would go to him, and let convention and religion go hang.” “Don’t tell me. You would do nothing of the sort. But do you really feel so strongly about being married? I think, you know, that since you worked out your plan of teaching Mr. Kelton a lesson you seem to be a different girl, but still----” “My dear Rosa, don’t let any one try to tell you that there’s any life for a woman in this world apart from a man. There’s not. And don’t let any one try to convince you that there’s any life for a man without a woman by his side. There’s not.” “To play his accompaniments?” “Yes, in the right key, mind. That’s just what a woman is placed in the world to do--to play a man’s accompaniments in the right key. If Mr. Kelton had a wife by his side he would not now have a sense of being made a fool of.” “He’s probably as conceited as ever by this time. Now how was it that we went on to talk of men and women when really our topic was Mr. Kelton?”