The Clever Woman of the Family

Colonel Keith's tone was different. He was argumentative where his young

cousin was sarcastic. He was reading some of the books over which Rachel

had strained her capacities without finding any one with whom to discuss

them, since all her friends regarded them as poisonous; and even Ermine

Williams, without being shaken in her steadfast trust, was so haunted

and distressed in her lonely and unvaried life by the echo of these

shocks to the faith of others, that absolutely as a medical precaution

she abstained from dwelling on them. On the other hand Colin Keith liked

to talk and argue out his impressions, and found in Rachel the only

person with whom the subject could be safely broached, and thus she for

the first time heard the subjects fairly handled. Hitherto she had never

thought that justice was done to the argument except by a portion of

the press, that drew conclusions which terrified while they allured

her, whereas she appreciated the candour that weighed each argument,

distinguishing principle from prejudice, and religious faith from

conventional construction, and in this measurement of minds she felt the

strength, and acuteness of powers superior to her own. He was not one

of the men who prefer unintellectual women. Perhaps clever men, of a

profession not necessarily requiring constant brain work, are not so

much inclined to rest the mind with feminine empty chatter, as are those

whose intellect is more on the strain. At any rate, though Colonel Keith

was attentive and courteous to every one, and always treated Lady Temple

as a prime minister might treat a queen, his tendency to conversation

with Rachel was becoming marked, and she grew increasingly prone to

consult him. The interest of this new intercourse quite took out the

sting of disappointment, when again Curatocult came back, "declined with

thanks." Nay, before making a third attempt she hazarded a question on

his opinion of female authorship, and much to her gratification, and

somewhat to her surprise, heard that he thought it often highly useful

and valuable.

"That is great candour. Men generally grudge whatever they think their

own privilege."

"Many things can often be felt and expressed by an able woman better

than by a man, and there is no reason that the utterance of anything

worthy to be said should be denied, provided it is worthy to be said."

"Ah! there comes the hit. I wondered if you would get through without

it."

"It was not meant as a hit. Men are as apt to publish what is not worth

saying as women can be, and some women are so conscientious as only to

put forth what is of weight and value."

"And you are above wanting to silence them by palaver about unfeminine

publicity?"

"There is no need of publicity. Much of the best and most wide-spread

writing emanates from the most quiet, unsuspected quarters."