does not show them. She has courage of the finest
sort, the courage of her opinions and the moral courage to deny
herself.'

I feel almost inclined to draw myself up, and say of the real lady: 'In
short, she possesses all the qualities that make up a gentleman.'

Tell me, ladies, if this is not just like a man.

CHAPTER XXXVI

MAMMIES AND GRANNIES

Cupboard love--Every kind of love is more or less selfish except
maternal love--Maternal love over-rated--If you never had a
grannie, do get one--Reminiscences of grannies--A sacrifice--
Grannies are not at all prejudiced in favour of their grandchildren.

Every kind of love is more or less cupboard love. I mean to say that
love, whatever form it may assume, requires, or, at any rate, expects,
some equivalent for it in return in the shape of affection, happiness,
or pleasure. I only make one exception in favour of maternal love. The
most loving sweetheart, husband, wife, or child expects to be loved,
almost demands it. The loving mother expects nothing, demands nothing.

A mother will love her child, however bad that child may be, however
unloving and ungrateful, whatever unhappiness and even sorrow he or she
may cause to her. A mother will love and bless a child whom the whole
world has condemned. A mother's love and forgiveness will follow a
child to the scaffold. There is no limit to it. It is infinite.

Maternal love, far above others, is the very sentiment that keeps us in
touch with heaven. It is the only holy love.

And that love is so inborn in woman that you see it already written on
the face of the little girl who plays with her doll. It is so inborn in
woman that I find something incongruous in such a remark as, 'She was a
good and loving mother!' All mothers are good and loving. All rules
have exceptions, but this one has none.

Therefore it is no extraordinary testimonial for a woman to be fond of
her children, because all mothers are fond of their children and good
to them, even the fiercest and cruellest of animals. The feeling is
given to them by Nature. We all profit by it, we are all happier for
it. For being able to dispense maternal love, woman is to be admired
and blessed, but not congratulated. A child is part and parcel of a
mother. In loving her child, a woman loves part of herself. It is not
selfishness, but, somehow, a little self-love. In her love for her
child, whether returned or not, she finds happiness.