suppose that's always the 
proper  for women to say. Lead a man on until he makes 
the besotted idiot of himself I have done, and then be surprised 
at his idiocy!" 

"I don't understand what you mean by 'the proper .' 
Your opinions are formed, you see, on women of your own class 
of life, of whom I know nothing! If you mean that I, Jane 
Theobald, would lead you, or any other man, on, knowingly 



t 



2o6 OUGHT WE TO VISIT HER J 



into talking rubbish, you make a ridiculous mistake. Nothing 
bores me more than wordnetanger ! If you had known a very little 
more of the world you would never have so misunderstood me/' 

" And you have thought I could be alone with you as I have 
been for hours, for days, alone, here, with you, and not grow 
to  for you more than I ought V* 

Ought ! Oh dear me, don't let us get upon moral stilts, in 
addition to everything else !" says Jane, with a laugh that cuts 
him horribly. "It isn't the right or the wrong of your talking 
so, it's the absurdity of it that takes away my breath !" 

Not a very exalted standpoint, it must