"clothier and mill-owner, as I am, besides farmer, I cannot get out of my head a certain idea that we manufacturers and persons of business are sometimes a little—a very little selfish and short-sighted in our views, and rather too regardless of human suffering, rather heartless in our pursuit of gain: don't you agree with me, Joe?"
"I cannot argue, where I cannot be comprehended," was again the answer.
"Man of mystery! Your master will argue with me sometimes, Joe: he is not so stiff as you are."
"May be not: we've all our own ways."
"Joe, do you seriously think all the wisdom in the world is lodged in male skulls?"
"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."
"What doctrines, Joe?"
"Let the woman learn in silence, with all subjection. I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man; but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve."
"What has that to do with the business?" interjected Shirley: "that smacks of rights of primogeniture. I'll bring it up to Mr. Yorke the first time he inveighs against those rights."
"And," continued Joe Scott, "Adam was not deceived; but the woman, being deceived, was in the transgression."
