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would not use it！
〃If the bird does like its cage； and does like its sugar and will not leave
it； why keep the door so very carefully shut？ Why not open it； only a
little？ Do they know there is many a bird will not break its wings against
the bars； but would fly if the doors were open？〃 She knit her forehead and
leaned further over the bars。
〃Then they say； 'If the women have the liberty you ask for； they will be
found in positions for which they are not fitted！' If two men climb one
ladder； did you ever see the weakest anywhere but at the foot？ The surest
sign of fitness is success。 The weakest never wins but where there is
handicapping。 Nature； left to herself； will as beautifully apportion a
man's work to his capacities as long ages ago she graduated the colours on
the bird's breast。 If we are not fit； you give us； to no purpose； the
right to labour； the work will fall out of our hands into those that are
wiser。〃
She talked more rapidly as she went on； as one talks of that over which
they have brooded long； and which lies near their hearts。
Waldo watched her intently。
〃They say women have one great and noble work left them； and they do it
ill。 That is true； they do it execrably。 It is the work that demands the
broadest culture； and they have not even the narrowest。 The lawyer may see
no deeper than his law…books； and the chemist see no further than the
windows of his laboratory； and they may do their work well。 But the woman
who does woman's work needs a many…sided； multiform culture； the heights
and depths of human life must not be beyond the reach of her vision； she
must have knowledge of men and things in many states； a wide catholicity of
sympathy； the strength that springs from knowledge； and the magnanimity
which springs from strength。 We bear the world； and we make it。 The souls
of little children are marvellously delicate and tender things； and keep
forever the shadow that first falls on them； and that is the mother's or at
best a woman's。 There was never a great man who had not a great motherit
is hardly an exaggeration。 The first six years of our life make us； all
that is added later is veneer； and yet some say； if a woman can cook a
dinner or dress herself well she has culture enough。
〃The mightiest and noblest of human work is given to us； and we do it ill。
Send a navvie to work into an artist's studio； and see what you will find
there！ And yet； thank God； we have this work；〃 she added； quickly〃it is
the one window through which we see into the great world of earnest labour。
The meanest girl who dances and dresses becomes something higher when her
children look up into her face and ask her questions。 It is the only
education we have and which they cannot take from us。〃
She smiled slightly。 〃They say that we complain of woman's being compelled
to look upon marriage as a profession； but that she is free to enter upon
it or leave it； as she pleases。
〃Yesand a cat set afloat in a pond is free to sit in the tub till it dies
there； it is under no obligation to wet its feet； and a drowning man may
catch at a straw or not； just as he likesit is a glorious liberty！ Let
any man think for five minutes of what old maidenhood means to a womanand
then let him be silent。 Is it easy to bear through life a name that in
itself signifies defeat？ to dwell； as nine out of ten unmarried women must；
under the finger of another woman？ Is it easy to look forward to an old
age without honour； without the reward of useful labour； without love？ I
wonder how many men there are who would give up everything that is dear in
life for the sake of maintaining a high ideal purity。〃
She laughed a little laugh that was clear without being pleasant。
〃And then； when they have no other argument against us； they say； 'Go on；
but when you have made woman what you wish； and her children inherit her
culture； you will defeat yourself。 Man will gradually become extinct from
excess of intellect； the passions which replenish the race will die。'
Fools！〃 she said； curling her pretty lip。 〃A Hottentot sits at the
roadside and feeds on a rotten bone he has found there； and takes out his
bottle of Cape…smoke and swills at it； and grunts with satisfaction； and
the cultured child of the nineteenth century sits in his armchair； and sips
choice wines with the lip of a connoisseur； and tastes delicate dishes with
a delicate palate； and with a satisfaction of which the Hottentot knows
nothing。 Heavy jaw and sloping foreheadall have gone with increasing
intellect； but the animal appetites are there stillrefined；
discriminative； but immeasurably intensified。 Fools！ Before men forgave
or worshipped； while they were weak on their hind legs； did they not eat
and drink； and fight for wives？ When all the latter additions to humanity
have vanished； will not the foundation on which they are built remain？〃
She was silent then for a while； and said somewhat dreamily； more as though
speaking to herself than to him；
〃They ask； What will you gain； even if man does not become extinct？you
will have brought justice and equality on to the earth； and sent love from
it。 When men and women are equals they will love no more。 Your highly…
cultured women will not be lovable； will not love。
〃Do they see nothing； understand nothing？ It is Tant Sannie who buries
husbands one after another； and folds her hands resignedly；'The Lord
gave； and the Lord hath taken away； and blessed be the name of the Lord；'
and she looks for another。 It is the hard…headed； deep thinker who； when
the wife who has thought and worked with him goes； can find no rest； and
lingers near her till he finds sleep beside her。
〃A great soul draws and is drawn with a more fierce intensity than any
small one。 By every inch we grow in intellectual height our love strikes
down its roots deeper； and spreads out its arms wider。 It is for love's
sake yet more than for any other that we look for that new time。〃
She had leaned her head against the stones； and watched with her sad； soft
eyes the retreating bird。 〃Then when that time comes；〃 she said lowly；
〃when love is no more bought or sold； when it is not a means of making
bread； when each woman's life is filled with earnest； independent labour；
then love will come to her； a strange； sudden sweetness breaking in upon
her earnest work； not sought for； but found。 Then； but not now〃
Waldo waited for her to finish the sentence； but she seemed to have
forgotten him。
〃Lyndall；〃 he said； putting his hand upon hershe started〃if you think
that that new time will be so great； so good； you who speak so easily〃
She interrupted him。
〃Speak！ speak！〃 she said； 〃the difficulty is not to speak； the difficulty
is to keep silence。〃
〃But why do you not try to bring that time？〃 he said with pitiful
simplicity。 〃When you speak I believe all you say； other people would
listen to you also。〃
〃I am not so sure of that；〃 she said with a smile。
Then over the small face came the weary look it had worn last night as it
watched the shadow in the corner； Ah； so weary！
〃I； Waldo； I？〃 she said。 〃I will do nothing good for myself； nothing for
the world； till some one wakes me。 I am asleep； swathed； shut up in self；
till I have been delivered I will deliver no one。〃
He looked at her wondering； but she was not looking at him。
〃To see the good and the beautiful；〃 she said； 〃and to have no strength to
live it； is only to be Moses on the mountain of Nebo； with the land at your
feet and no power to enter。 It would be better not to see it。 Come；〃 she
said； looking up into his face； and seeing its uncomprehending expression；
〃let us go； it is getting late。 Doss is anxious for his breakfast also；〃
she added； wheeling round and calling to the dog； who was endeavouring to
unearth a mole； an occupation to which he had been zealously addicted from
the third month； but in which he had never on any single occasion proved
successful。
Waldo shouldered his bag； and Lyndall walked on before in silence； with the
dog close to her side。 Perhaps she thought of the narrowness of the limits
within which a human soul may speak and be understood by its nearest of
mental kin； of how soon it reaches that solitary land of the individual
experience； in which no fellow footfall is ever heard。 Whatever her
thoughts may have been； she was soon interrupted。 Waldo came close to her；
and standing still； produced with awkwardness from his breast…pocket a
small carved box。
〃I made it for you；〃 he said； holding it out。
〃I like it；〃 she said； examining it carefully。
The workmanship was better than that of the grave…post。 The flowers that
covered it were delicate； and here and there small conical protuberances
were let in among them。 She turned it round critically。 Waldo bent over
it lovingly。
〃There is one strange