"Oh, but that would be impolite," said Emily, feeling that for an artist he used very crude metaphor. "Of course, Jane and I were not talking about that kind of people, or that kind of ways. We were talking of people like you and me--nice people, you know. Jane advised me to be quite frank with you." Lorenzo opened his eyes widely. "About what, please?" "Oh, about all things. You see I meet so few men, and men are so interesting, and I enjoy talking with them. I've read a good deal, and I don't care for the life in this place. I want to leave it dreadfully." "So do I," said the artist. "I quite agree with you there." "You see, Jane has been teaching me to understand life, and I am getting the feeling that I am meant for something else than just helping my mother, wandering about town, and going to church. I'm very tired and restless." Lorenzo painted fast. "Mr. Rath, if you--a man--felt as I do, what would you do?" "Get out." "But where?" "Everybody can find a way, if they really want to." "It isn't as if I had talent, you see." "A good many people haven't talent and yet do very well, indeed." "But I don't want to be a shop-girl or anything like that." "Naturally not." There was a pause. "I'm very much interested in the progress women are making," said Emily. "I read all I can get hold of about it. Don't you think it remarkable?" "I don't think much about it, and I skip everything on the subject." "Oh, Mr. Rath!" "I'm a jealous brute. I don't like to realize that a woman can do everything that is a man's work, even to the verge of driving him to starvation, while he can't do any of her work under any circumstances." "He could wash and cook and sweep." "Oh, he's invented machines to save her that." "I see you've no sympathy with the advanced woman." "Yes, I have. I'm very sorry for her. A nice mess the next generation will be." "Oh, dear." "My one comfort is that boys take after their mothers, and I'm looking to see a future generation of men so strong-minded that they smash ladies back to where they belong--in the rear with the tents." "Goodness, Mr. Rath, then you don't like any of the ways things are going?" "Of course I don't. Once upon a time a busy man's time was sacred; now any woman who feels like taking it, appropriates it mercilessly." "I should lock the door, if I felt that way. But now really, don't you think that we might speak quite openly and frankly?" Lorenzo began to put up his paints. "I want to get to the bottom of a lot of things." "Well?" "You're the first man that I've ever known that I felt could understand what I meant, and I do want to know the man's side of things." "A man hasn't got any side nowadays. He's not allowed one." Emily looked a little surprised. "You speak bitterly." "I think I've a right. Men are still observing the rules of the game and suffering bitter consequences." "What do you mean?"