sufficiently stimulating to distract him from the combination of pain and pleasure induced by being in elizabeth’s presence. He was under no illusions that she had forgiven him for his behaviour, but she had at least seemed neutral, even a bit teasing, toward him until now. Was she perhaps communicating that the weedy stripling beside her meant something more to her than he did? He gritted his teeth in an effort to control himself.
Mrs. Gardiner interrupted Mr. Brewer’s impassioned speech. “I admire your position regarding the abolition of slavery, but I must once again question the basis of your position, which would free all slaves while leaving the majority of them as the de facto property of the minority,” she said in a dulcet tone which belied the steel underneath.
elizabeth looked away from Darcy to observe how Mr. Brewer would handle this challenge. she was not disappointed; his colour rose as he said,
“My dear Mrs. Gardiner, the basis for abolitionism is the recognition of the evil of holding rational beings as slaves, and the question of the status of women is still open at present. I would personally agree that the present company supports the argument that the educability of women is safe, but I have seen no evidence that this is the rule rather than the exception.”
“I am grateful, sir, that you would acknowledge that I am a rational creature,” said elizabeth with an amused smile. “I must wonder, though, whence comes any argument that women cannot be educated; it seems we have a number of instances to prove that women may be educated safely, and no cases at all of women who have been driven mad by learning!” she cast a sly glance at Darcy to see how he bore her radical statement.
“to which I might add,” said Mrs. Monkhouse, “that there is a certain danger in entrusting the rearing of children to beings whom you consider both ineducable and irrational! natural affection cannot coexist with a state of complete dependence.”
62
By FoRce oF InstInct
Mr. Gardiner entered the fray. “can we, in fact, expect virtue from those who are wholly dependent on the whims of others, be they slaves, women, or children? I would posit that just as our society encourages men to live for their wealth, it encourages vanity, cunning, and manipulation on the part of women who must live by their personal charms, which are now a higher goal than virtue itself.”
“I agree that it is unfortunate that women often must rely on their beauty and allures to attract a man, rather than on their moral stature,” argued Mr. Brewer fervently. “This is one of the unnatural distinctions of our society, where wealth, beauty, and rank are of greater importance than virtue.
However, many men believe their wives’ deference to them to be a virtue and a symbol of respect, and in what way is the independence of women a greater virtue than that?”
elizabeth winced; it did not trouble her to shock Mr. Darcy with radical thought and arguments, but she feared an entrance into the subject of the evils of wealth which would cause a most unpleasant situation. He once again surprised her not only by ignoring the potentially offensive implication but also by entering into the debate.
“I cannot agree that all men would wish for a spaniel-like fawning on the part of their wives. The current expectation is for women to be submissive,”
he replied thoughtfully, “but I would question the strength of mind of the man who requires a companion he can command at all times, rather than one who may stimulate his mind. I personally do not care for holding conversations with a mirror but rather with another rational soul. The very submissiveness of so many women in fact speaks for rather than against their educability, as it is clear that society encourages and reinforces that behaviour in every manner.” He was acutely aware of elizabeth’s surprised gaze upon him; he wondered at her reaction, as she of all people should have
Mrs. Gardiner interrupted Mr. Brewer’s impassioned speech. “I admire your position regarding the abolition of slavery, but I must once again question the basis of your position, which would free all slaves while leaving the majority of them as the de facto property of the minority,” she said in a dulcet tone which belied the steel underneath.
elizabeth looked away from Darcy to observe how Mr. Brewer would handle this challenge. she was not disappointed; his colour rose as he said,
“My dear Mrs. Gardiner, the basis for abolitionism is the recognition of the evil of holding rational beings as slaves, and the question of the status of women is still open at present. I would personally agree that the present company supports the argument that the educability of women is safe, but I have seen no evidence that this is the rule rather than the exception.”
“I am grateful, sir, that you would acknowledge that I am a rational creature,” said elizabeth with an amused smile. “I must wonder, though, whence comes any argument that women cannot be educated; it seems we have a number of instances to prove that women may be educated safely, and no cases at all of women who have been driven mad by learning!” she cast a sly glance at Darcy to see how he bore her radical statement.
“to which I might add,” said Mrs. Monkhouse, “that there is a certain danger in entrusting the rearing of children to beings whom you consider both ineducable and irrational! natural affection cannot coexist with a state of complete dependence.”
62
By FoRce oF InstInct
Mr. Gardiner entered the fray. “can we, in fact, expect virtue from those who are wholly dependent on the whims of others, be they slaves, women, or children? I would posit that just as our society encourages men to live for their wealth, it encourages vanity, cunning, and manipulation on the part of women who must live by their personal charms, which are now a higher goal than virtue itself.”
“I agree that it is unfortunate that women often must rely on their beauty and allures to attract a man, rather than on their moral stature,” argued Mr. Brewer fervently. “This is one of the unnatural distinctions of our society, where wealth, beauty, and rank are of greater importance than virtue.
However, many men believe their wives’ deference to them to be a virtue and a symbol of respect, and in what way is the independence of women a greater virtue than that?”
elizabeth winced; it did not trouble her to shock Mr. Darcy with radical thought and arguments, but she feared an entrance into the subject of the evils of wealth which would cause a most unpleasant situation. He once again surprised her not only by ignoring the potentially offensive implication but also by entering into the debate.
“I cannot agree that all men would wish for a spaniel-like fawning on the part of their wives. The current expectation is for women to be submissive,”
he replied thoughtfully, “but I would question the strength of mind of the man who requires a companion he can command at all times, rather than one who may stimulate his mind. I personally do not care for holding conversations with a mirror but rather with another rational soul. The very submissiveness of so many women in fact speaks for rather than against their educability, as it is clear that society encourages and reinforces that behaviour in every manner.” He was acutely aware of elizabeth’s surprised gaze upon him; he wondered at her reaction, as she of all people should have
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