You visit a poor family, or one of the working-classes in a large town, where the people are generally frank, and hardly know how to conceal their thoughts. Do not be surprised, then, if something like the following dialogue should take place: "Well, sir, but who pays you for visiting us?" "Nobody." "What interest, then, have you in coming?" "None whatever, beyond that of wishing to benefit you and your little ones, whom I love." "I can scarcely believe it. There must be something underhand in this." {31} But when such persons are convinced that you entertain a sincere affection for them--that there is nothing _underhand_ in what you do--you become all-powerful. The disclosure breaks in upon them like a divine revelation, and they may be said to love the truth even before knowing it. Then you may speak, entreat, or command; you will be listened to, you will be believed, obeyed. What else, indeed, could any do who love you, and also inspire love on your part? It is quite right to reason and to appeal to the intellect, but it is not enough. Human malice will never be at a loss for a reply to your arguments. You may be acute, logical, endowed with learning and talent, the right may be most clearly on your side, and yet your efforts will be unproductive; nay, you will often be defeated, insomuch that it may be affirmed that he who uses reason only shall perish by reason. On the contrary, love causes things to be regarded from a different point of view, removes difficulties, and imparts light and courage simultaneously. You say to a worldly woman:--"If you were to occupy yourself a little in good works, such as visiting the poor." ... Forthwith she starts a thousand objections against the suggestion:--"What, I, in my position! ... I really have no leisure. I have my house, my children, my servants, and so many other things to attend to. Then, my health is so wretched, and my husband cares for nothing. ... Besides, it is a woman's first duty to look after her domestic concerns." {32} In a word, she instantly bristles up with good reasons. You encounter a pointed defence everywhere, and no gap to admit your arguments. Beware, therefore, of reasoning with her. Go straight to her heart, beget charity within her, make her to feel, to love, and soon you will hardly recognize her as the same individual, for the change will be almost instantaneous, and every subsidiary stumbling-block will disappear. Then she will go and come, suffer, be humble, self-denying, examplary. Woman is called the feeble sex. True, when she does not love; but when love takes possession of her soul, she becomes the strong, the able, the devoted sex. She then looks difficulties in the face which would make men tremble.