Cashel Byron's Profession

"You do not understand the duties of a government, Lydia. You never

approach the subject without confirming my opinion that women are

constitutionally incapable of comprehending it."

"It is natural for you to think so, Lucian. The House of Commons is

to you the goal of existence. To me it is only an assemblage of

ill-informed gentlemen who have botched every business they have

ever undertaken, from the first committee of supply down to the last

land act; and who arrogantly assert that I am not good enough to sit

with them."

"Lydia," said Lucian, annoyed; "you know that I respect women in

their own sphere--"

"Then give them another sphere, and perhaps they will earn your

respect in that also. I am sorry to say that men, in THEIR sphere,

have not won my respect. Enough of that for the present. I have to

make some domestic arrangements, which are of more immediate

importance than the conversion of a good politician into a bad

philosopher. Excuse me for five minutes."

She left the room. Lucian sat down and gave his attention to Alice,

who had still enough of her old nervousness to make her straighten

her shoulders and look stately. But he did not object to this; a

little stiffness of manner gratified his taste.

"I hope," he said, "that my cousin has not succeeded in inducing you

to adopt her peculiar views."

"No," said Alice. "Of course her case is quite exceptional--she is

so wonderfully accomplished. In general, I do not think women should

have views. There are certain convictions which every lady holds:

for instance, we know that Roman Catholicism is wrong. But that can

hardly be called a view; indeed it would be wicked to call it so, as

it is one of the highest truths. What I mean is that women should

not be political agitators."

"I understand, and quite agree with you. Lydia is, as you say, an

exceptional case. She has lived much abroad; and her father was a

very singular man. Even the clearest heads, when removed from the

direct influence of English life and thought, contract extraordinary

prejudices. Her father at one time actually attempted to leave a

large farm to the government in trust for the people; but

fortunately he found that it was impossible; no such demise was

known to the English law or practicable by it. He subsequently

admitted the folly of this by securing Lydia's rights as his

successor as stringently as he could. It is almost a pity that such

strength of mind and extent of knowledge should be fortified by the

dangerous independence which great wealth confers. Advantages like

these bring with them certain duties to the class that has produced

them--duties to which Lydia is not merely indifferent, but

absolutely hostile."