"Mr Maplestone, I'm sorry, but you are illogical. You acknowledge that this is a subject about which you know nothing, yet almost in the same breath you criticise and condemn. Men blame women for having no sense of justice, but they are just as bad. They are worse, and with less excuse. Women's perceptions are so keen that they see every side of a situation, so it happens sometimes that they get confused, and appear contradictory. Men are so blind that they only see _one_ side--their own side--and in utter ignorance of all the others they proceed to lay down the law. For my part, I prefer the woman's standpoint." Such a blankly amazed face stared into mine! The blue eyes widened, a glimpse of strong white teeth showed between the parted lips. He gaped like a child, and said vaguely:-- "Yes, but--I don't understand! That may all be quite true, but what on earth has it got to do with what we were talking of last?" I bridled. Nothing on earth is more exasperating than to enlarge on one's own pet theories, and then to find that they have fallen flat. I made my voice as chilling as possible. "To me the connection seems obvious." "Sorry. My stupidity, I suppose. I fail to grasp it. Will you explain?" "You said that Delphine was not a woman. If that is so, it's her husband's fault--and yours! And every other man's with whom she comes in contact. You all treat her like a child, and expect her to behave as a child, and then turn round and abuse her because she dances to your tune." "Excuse me. Who abuses her?" "You did. You said--" "I said she was a charming child of whom I was very fond. Is that abuse?" "In the--er--the connection in which you used it--in the way in which you said it, and meant it, and avoided saying something else--yes, it is." For a moment he looked as if he were going to laugh, then met my eyes, thought better of it, and grunted instead. "Sorry. Again I don't quite follow. But no doubt it is my illogical mind. I should be interested to know in what way you hold me responsible for Delphine's shortcomings?" "I have just told you. You treat her as a child who must be fed on sweetmeats, and bribed with treats and diversions; conversationally you talk down to her level. It never occurs to you to expect her to be in earnest about any one thing." "Well?" "Well! Isn't that enough? Can't you see how such an attitude must affect her character and development?" "No, I can't. To my mind it wouldn't matter what the whole world thought. For good or ill, I stand for myself. What other people happened to think about me wouldn't affect me one jot." I said loftily:-- "You are a man. Women are different. We _do_ care. We _are_ affected. That's why it is so dreadfully important that we should be understood. I know it by experience. In different surroundings, with different people, I myself am two or three totally different women--"