I admitted that she had made an effective retort. “The truth is,” said I, “American women aren’t brought up for domestic life. So, whether they marry at home or abroad they have trouble.” “Men resent their independence,” said Edna. “It may be so,” said I. Of what use to point out to her that the trouble lay in the women’s demanding to be supported and refusing to do anything to earn their support? All I said was: “I suspect a good many husbands think the marriage contract too one-sided--binding only them and not their wives. But the trouble with the ‘alliances’ can’t be that.” “It’s because Europeans look on the wife as a kind of head servant. But Hugh isn’t that sort.” “We’ll know more as to that when we hear what Margot says after she’s been married a few years,” said I. “The point to settle now is how to bind him to good behavior so far as it can be done in advance. He may be deeply in love with Margot. He may stay in love with her. But in the circumstances it’s wise to assume that he wants only her money and that, if he gets it, he’ll treat her badly.” My wife’s silence was encouraging. “If he had plenty of money he might even goad her into releasing him--and might marry again.” My wife was obviously impressed. “Yes--that has been done,” said she. “Of course, if Margot should have an heir right away. But----” She looked at me as if trying to decide whether she could trust me with a confidence. She evidently decided in my favor, for she went on to say: “On the other hand--Margot is a peculiar girl. No--many women have the same peculiarity. They can’t be trusted with power over their husbands. If she had all the money in her own name and he were dependent on her-- Godfrey, I’m sure there’d be trouble.” Once more she was astonishing me with her clear judgment in matters as to which I should have thought her hopelessly prejudiced. “But _I_ can be trusted,” said I. “The plan I had in mind was to take over the mortgages and guarantee a sufficient income.” She shook her head. “He won’t consent,” said she. “His solicitors will insist on better terms than that.” “Now you see why I want to talk to him directly. I don’t purpose to be hampered by that old trick of the principal hidden behind a go-between.” “There’s no other way,” said Edna. “They’re too clever to yield that.” “He needs money badly.” “But he won’t marry unless he’s actually to get it,” replied she. “Almost every American who has married a daughter over here has tried to make a business bargain--at least, a bargain not altogether one-sided. Not one of them has succeeded. These Europeans have been handling the dowry and settlement question too many centuries.” “I see,” said I affably. “If we want what they’ve got, we have to take it on their terms.”