ter into irregular love
affairs and never regret it? Is it possible for a woman to break the
moral law without suffering disastrous consequences? Are there cases
where a girl or a woman yields to the desperate cry of her soul for a
mate without degradation and without loss of her self-respect? Can such
things be? Do you want my honest opinion?' The poet's eyes challenged
me.

"'Yes, that is exactly what I want, I want the truth.'

"Whereupon Kendall Brown assured me that he has known a number of rather
fine women, self-supporting and self-respecting, the kind of women who
say their prayers at night and try to be kind, who, nevertheless, have
had _liaisons_ that have not resulted in shame and sorrow or in any
moral or material disaster.

"'Are you sure of this? How can you be sure?'

"'Because I have talked frankly with these women. Sometimes I was in a
position where I could, and, anyhow, women tell me things. They know it
is my business to study life, to glimpse the heights and depths of human
nature. I would be a poor poet if I couldn't do that.'

"'And these women told you that they have never felt regrets?'

"'Practically that--yes; several of them said that they would do the
same thing over again if they had to relive their lives. They have been
happier, more efficient in their work, they have had better health,
calmer nerves, a more serene attitude towards life because of these love
affairs.'

"'I don't believe it,' I declared. 'These women lied to you. They kept
something back. The thing is wrong, abominable, and nothing can make it
right or decent. I would rather die of loneliness.'

"I shall never forget Kendall's superior smile as he answered me:

"'Oh, the inconsistency of a woman! She will not marry, she will not
have an _affaire_, yet she longs for the intimate companionship of a
man. She wants to go swimming, but insists upon keeping away from the
water.'

"I bit my lip in vexation of spirit.

"'Dear friend, don't be annoyed with me,' my poet continued with a quick
change to gentleness. 'I didn't make the world or put these troublesome
desires and inconsistencies into the hearts of women. Listen! I'll give
you my best wisdom now: If a woman cannot marry and will not have a
lover, then she must stop all stimulation of her emotions, she must put
men out of her thoughts, out of her life and concentrate on something
worth while that will not harm her. Let her take up the purely
intellectual life,