She has to rack her brains every
morning to think of nice things for other people to eat, and naturally
she thinks of the things she likes best herself, and then she sallies
forth and buys them, and smells the smell of their seasoning all
afternoon, and at the great moment says, `No thank you!' and eats minced
beef. And when the poor dear catches hold of an infinitesimal crinkle
in her gown, and calls upon those present to witness that she grows so
thin that it hangs upon her,--they jeer, and laugh her to scorn. I've
heard it. I've seen it. It's a heartrending sight."

"I'll promise faithfully not to jeer when you grow fat."

"I never shall," Grizel assured him. "Scrags are my line. Scrags are
much easier to deal with. Scrags can always be mitigated if you lavish
enough money; it's the plain coat and skirt that's the devil. I'd like
to found a charity for the supply of draped garments to the thin wives
of clergymen. _Can't_ you see them,--in navy-blue serge, with flannel
shirts falling well in at the chest? It must have a depressing effect
on the sermons! ... What was I talking of last! It's rather difficult
to keep count."

"The superiority of middle-aged men over their wives. Wasn't that it?"

"I never said they were superior. They're not, but they look it, and
that's an extra burden on the wives. It proves without any doubt soever
that women's work is more exhausting than men's."

"Is this by any chance a suffragette lecture in disguise?"

"Certainly not. Who mentioned suffragettes? I'm talking of the
old-fashioned women who stay at home, and look after their own affairs,
and I'm sorry for them, and wonder they are not fifty times more stupid
than they are, and I'm sorry I spoke. I said in my haste, `They can
talk of nothing but their servants.' Poor darlings! What wonder? Shut
in from morning till night with two aproned fiends, who at any moment
may reduce you to starvation, or poison you as you eat. (I don't care
if my pronouns _are_ mixed! I shall mix them if I like!) Suppose man
had to live day and night mewed up with his clerk and office boy;
suppose _you_ were followed wherever you went by grumbles and breakages,
and a smell of onions, and daren't let go, in case you were left to
clean the sink yourself! A woman said to me the other day, that after a
lifelong struggle she could not for the life of her decide which was
worse--a servant who thinks, or a servant who don't. Her house