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〃Pray do not trouble； Admiral。 I only looked in with reference to our
little chat this morning。 I wish that you would give us your powerful
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support at our coming meeting for the improvement of the condition of
woman。〃
〃No； ma'am； I can't do that。〃 He pursed up his lips and shook his
grizzled head。
〃And why not？〃
〃Against my principles； ma'am。〃
〃But why？〃
〃Because woman has her duties and man has his。 I may be old…
fashioned； but that is my view。 Why； what is the world coming to？ I
was saying to Dr。 Walker only last night that we shall have a woman
wanting to command the Channel Fleet next。〃
〃That is one of the few professions which cannot be improved；〃 said
Mrs。 Westmacott； with her sweetest smile。 〃Poor woman must still look
to man for protection。〃
〃I don't like these new…fangled ideas； ma'am。 I tell you honestly that
I don't。 I like discipline； and I think every one is the better for it。
Women have got a great deal which they had not in the days of our fathers。
They have universities all for themselves； I am told； and there are women
doctors； I hear。 Surely they should rest contented。 What more can they
want？〃
〃You are a sailor； and sailors are always chivalrous。 If you could see
how things really are； you would change your opinion。 What are the poor
things to do？ There are so many of them and so few things to which they
can turn their hands。 Governesses？ But there are hardly any situations。
Music and drawing？ There is not one in fifty who has any special talent
in that direction。 Medicine？ It is still surrounded with difficulties for
women； and it takes many years and a small fortune to qualify。 Nursing？
It is hard work ill paid； and none but the strongest can stand it。 What
would you have them do then； Admiral？ Sit down and starve？〃
〃Tut； tut！ It is not so bad as that。〃
〃The pressure is terrible。 Advertise for a lady companion at ten
shillings a week； which is less than a cook's wage； and see how many
answers you get。 There is no hope； no outlook； for these struggling
thousands。 Life is a dull； sordid struggle； leading down to a cheerless old
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age。 Yet when we try to bring some little ray of hope； some chance；
however distant； of something better； we are told by chivalrous gentlemen
that it is against their principles to help。〃
The Admiral winced； but shook his head in dissent。
〃There is banking； the law； veterinary surgery； government offices； the
civil service； all these at least should be thrown freely open to women； if
they have brains enough to compete successfully for them。 Then if
woman were unsuccessful it would be her own fault； and the majority of
the population of this country could no longer complain that they live
under a different law to the minority； and that they are held down in
poverty and serfdom； with every road to independence sealed to them。〃
〃What would you propose to do； ma'am？〃
〃To set the more obvious injustices right； and so to pave the way for a
reform。 Now look at that man digging in the field。 I know him。 He
can neither read nor write； he is steeped in whisky； and he has as much
intelligence as the potatoes that he is digging。 Yet the man has a vote；
can possibly turn the scale of an election； and may help to decide the
policy of this empire。 Now； to take the nearest example； here am I； a
woman who have had some education； who have traveled； and who have
seen and studied the institutions of many countries。 I hold considerable
property； and I pay more in imperial taxes than that man spends in whisky；
which is saying a great deal； and yet I have no more direct influence upon
the disposal of the money which I pay than that fly which creeps along the
wall。 Is that right？ Is it fair？〃
The Admiral moved uneasily in his chair。 〃Yours is an exceptional
case；〃 said he。
〃But no woman has a voice。 Consider that the women are a majority
in the nation。 Yet if there was a question of legislation upon which all
women were agreed upon one side and all the men upon the other； it
would appear that the matter was settled unanimously when more than
half the population were opposed to it。 Is that right？〃
Again the Admiral wriggled。 It was very awkward for the gallant
seaman to have a handsome woman opposite to him； bombarding him with
questions to none of which he could find an answer。 〃Couldn't even get
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the tompions out of his guns；〃 as he explained the matter to the Doctor that
evening。
〃Now those are really the points that we shall lay stress upon at the
meeting。 The free and complete opening of the professions； the final
abolition of the zenana I call it； and the franchise to all women who pay
Queen's taxes above a certain sum。 Surely there is nothing unreasonable
in that。 Nothing which could offend your principles。 We shall have
medicine； law； and the church all rallying that night for the protection of
woman。 Is the navy to be the one profession absent？〃
The Admiral jumped out of his chair with an evil word in his throat。
〃There； there； ma'am；〃 he cried。 〃Drop it for a time。 I have heard
enough。 You've turned me a point or two。 I won't deny it。 But let it
stand at that。 I will think it over。〃
〃Certainly； Admiral。 We would not hurry you in your decision。 But
we still hope to see you on our platform。〃 She rose and moved about in
her lounging masculine fashion from one picture to another； for the walls
were thickly covered with reminiscences of the Admiral's voyages。
〃Hullo！〃 said she。 〃Surely this ship would have furled all her lower
canvas and reefed her topsails if she found herself on a lee shore with the
wind on her quarter。〃
〃Of course she would。 The artist was never past Gravesend； I swear。
It's the Penelope as she was on the 14th of June； 1857； in the throat of the
Straits of Banca； with the Island of Banca on the starboard bow； and
Sumatra on the port。 He painted it from description； but of course； as
you very sensibly say； all was snug below and she carried storm sails and
double…reefed topsails； for it was blowing a cyclone from the sou'east。 I
compliment you； ma'am； I do indeed！ 〃
〃Oh； I have done a little sailoring myselfas much as a woman can
aspire to； you know。 This is the Bay of Funchal。 What a lovely
frigate！〃
〃Lovely； you say！ Ah； she was lovely！ That is the Andromeda。 I
was a mate aboard of hersub…lieutenant they call it now； though I like the
old name best。〃
〃What a lovely rake her masts have； and what a curve to her bows！
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She must have been a clipper。〃
The old sailor rubbed his hands and his eyes glistened。 His old ships
bordered close upon his wife and his son in his affections。
〃I know Funchal；〃 said the lady carelessly。 〃A couple of years ago I
had a seven…ton cutter…rigged yacht； the Banshee； and we ran over to
Madeira from Falmouth。〃
〃You ma'am； in a seven…tonner？〃
〃With a couple of Cornish lads for a crew。 Oh； it was glorious！ A
fortnight right out in the open； with no worries； no letters； no callers； no
petty thoughts； nothing but the grand works of God； the tossing sea and
the great silent sky。 They talk of riding； indeed； I am fond o