human
Because there is nought agate that fits women to be consarned in.
gpt
Indeed! There is prayer and preaching agate in that church. Are we not concerned in that?
human
Ye have been present neither at the prayer nor preaching, ma'am, if I have observed aright. What I alluded to was politics. William Farren here was touching on that subject, if I'm not mista'en.
gpt
Well, what then? Politics are our habitual study, Joe. Do you know I see a newspaper every day, and two of a Sunday?
human
I should think you'll read the marriages, probably, miss, and the murders, and the accidents, and sich like?
gpt
I read the leading articles, Joe, and the foreign intelligence, and I look over the market prices. In short, I read just what gentlemen read.
human
Joe, continued Miss Keeldar,
gpt
I never yet could ascertain properly whether you are a Whig or a Tory. Pray, which party has the honour of your alliance?
human
It is rayther difficult to explain where you are sure not to be understood, was Joe's haughty response;
gpt
So am I, Joe, replied Shirley, who had rather a pleasure in teasing the overlooker, by persisting in talking on subjects with which he opined she, as a woman, had no right to meddle--
human
The dews at this hour is unwholesome for females,
gpt
If you make that remark out of interest in me, I have merely to assure you that I am impervious to cold. I should not mind taking my turn to watch the mill one of these summer nights, armed with your musket, Joe.
human
But--to go back to my sheep, she proceeded--
gpt
I cannot argue where I cannot be comprehended,
human
Man of mystery! Your master will argue with me sometimes, Joe. He is not so stiff as you are.
gpt
Maybe not. We've all our own ways.
human
Joe, do you seriously think all the wisdom in the world is lodged in male skulls?
gpt
I think that women are a kittle and a froward generation; and I've a great respect for the doctrines delivered in the second chapter of St. Paul's first Epistle to Timothy.
human
What doctrines, Joe?
gpt
What has that to do with the business? interjected Shirley.
human
That smacks of rights of primogeniture. I'll bring it up to Mr. Yorke the first time he inveighs against those rights.
gpt
And, continued Joe Scott,
human
Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
gpt
More shame to Adam to sin with his eyes open! cried Miss Keeldar.
human
To confess the honest truth, Joe, I never was easy in my mind concerning that chapter. It puzzles me.
gpt
It is very plain, miss. He that runs may read.
human
He may read it in his own fashion, remarked Caroline, now joining in the dialogue for the first time.
gpt
You allow the right of private judgment, I suppose, Joe?
human
My certy, that I do! I allow and claim it for every line of the holy Book.
gpt
Women may exercise it as well as men?
human
Nay. Women is to take their husbands' opinion, both in politics and religion. It's wholesomest for them.
gpt
Oh! oh!
human
To be sure; no doubt on't,
gpt
Consider yourself groaned down, and cried shame over, for such a stupid observation, said Miss Keeldar.
human
You might as well say men are to take the opinions of their priests without examination. Of what value would a religion so adopted be? It would be mere blind, besotted superstition.
gpt
And what is _your_ reading, Miss Helstone, o' these words o' St. Paul's?
human
Hem! I--I account for them in this way. He wrote that chapter for a particular congregation of Christians, under peculiar circumstances; and besides, I dare say, if I could read the original Greek, I should find that many of the words have been wrongly translated, perhaps misapprehended altogether. It would be possible, I doubt not, with a little ingenuity, to give the passage quite a contrary turn--to make it say, 'Let the woman speak out whenever she sees fit to make an objection.' 'It is permitted to a woman to teach and to exercise authority as much as may be. Man, meantime, cannot do better than hold his peace;' and so on.
gpt
That willn't wash, miss.
human
I dare say it will. My notions are dyed in faster colours than yours, Joe. Mr. Scott, you are a thoroughly dogmatical person, and always were. I like William better than you.
gpt
Joe is well enough in his own house, said Shirley.
human
I have seen him as quiet as a lamb at home. There is not a better nor a kinder husband in Briarfield. He does not dogmatize to his wife.
gpt
My wife is a hard-working, plain woman; time and trouble has ta'en all the conceit out of her. But that is not the case with you, young misses. And then you reckon to have so much knowledge; and i' my thoughts it's only superficial sort o' vanities you're acquainted with. I can tell--happen a year sin'--one day Miss Caroline coming into our counting-house when I war packing up summat behind t' great desk, and she didn't see me, and she brought a slate wi' a sum on it to t' maister. It war only a bit of a sum in practice, that our Harry would have settled i' two minutes. She couldn't do it. Mr. Moore had to show her how. And when he did show her, she couldn't understand him.
human
Nonsense, Joe!
gpt
Nay, it's no nonsense. And Miss Shirley there reckons to hearken to t' maister when he's talking ower trade, so attentive like, as if she followed him word for word, and all war as clear as a lady's looking-glass to her een; and all t' while she's peeping and peeping out o' t' window to see if t' mare stands quiet; and then looking at a bit of a splash on her riding-skirt; and then glancing glegly round at wer counting-house cobwebs and dust, and thinking what mucky folk we are, and what a grand ride she'll have just i' now ower Nunnely Common. She hears no more o' Mr. Moore's talk nor if he spake Hebrew.
human
Joe, you are a real slanderer. I would give you your answer, only the people are coming out of church. We must leave you. Man of prejudice, good-bye.--William, good-bye.--Children, come up to Fieldhead to-morrow, and you shall choose what you like best out of Mrs. Gill's store-room.
gpt
There will be just light enough to show me the way home,
human
You must not go alone, Shirley; Fanny shall accompany you.
gpt
That she shall not. Of what need I be afraid in my own parish? I would walk from Fieldhead to the church any fine midsummer night, three hours later than this, for the mere pleasure of seeing the stars and the chance of meeting a fairy.
human
But just wait till the crowd is cleared away.
gpt
Agreed. There are the five Misses Armitage streaming by. Here comes Mrs. Sykes's phaeton, Mr. Wynne's close carriage, Mrs. Birtwhistle's car. I don't wish to go through the ceremony of bidding them all good-bye, so we will step into the garden and take shelter amongst the laburnums for an instant.