"O, we were more depraved than those that came after," said Belle. "And if you hadn't taken us in hand, in a summary way, I do not know what would have become of us. Papa never would do anything but spoil us, he was so indulgent." "It's not a man's business to manage his children," said Cyril Heath. "It's the mother's." "I don't agree with you," said Frank Grey. "It's the man's." "Of _course_ it is," said his wife. "Well, why?" pursued Cyril. "He is supposed to have more weight of character than she." "And suppose he hasn't?" "I can't suppose any such thing. Men are born to rule, and do rule; women are born to yield, and do yield." "They are born to rule in their own sphere, it is true," interposed Mrs. Grey, who, as the reader ought to know, had written a book on the subject of education. "But home is not their sphere. It is woman's kingdom, and there she should reign." "But I always took the ground that a modest woman would doubt her own judgment in regard to the children, and defer to the father," objected Frank's wife. She was a little, delicate creature, who admired her husband above all things, though she could pretend to be ashamed of him now and then. "A man ought to be master in his own house," said one. "That applies to the kitchen as well as to the nursery," said another. "A woman who makes her husband manage the children will make him manage the servants." "Well, some do." "The more shame to them." "It's rather hard upon a man when he comes home at night, hoping for a smile from his wife, and a romp with his boys, to see an anxious wrinkle on her brow, and hear her say: "'O, John, I am so thankful you have come! There's Tom won't take his powders, and I can do nothing with him! And Sue has stolen and eaten four slices of cake. Four slices! Just think of it! And Hatty struck her nurse twice, and nurse says she'll leave.'" Everybody laughed, and everybody had something to say. "Why, of course such a woman as that has no force of character," said Cyril Heath. "Really sensible women do not behave in that way." "And really good ones do not have children who are disobedient, who steal cake, and strike their nurses," said Mrs. Grey. At this there was a great clamor, some denying, some affirming the point. "I think, mother, you forget some of our childish misdeeds," said Frank. "I know a very good mother who had some very wayward children." "Being wayward is one thing; being low, and vulgar, and rude is another," she replied. "I suppose all spirited children like to have their own way, and will get it if they can; but it is inconsistent with my idea of a Christian home that its inmates should be wanting in refinement, have the habit of giving way to passionate temper, to duplicity, to dishonesty, to meanness--" "We all know you can't stand meanness," interrupted Frank. "But go on, please. We young fathers and mothers are ready for any number of hints."