[Diana of the Crossways by George Meredith]@TWC D-Link bookDiana of the Crossways CHAPTER XIV 18/34
They replied, that the long habit of dealing with scales enabled them to weigh the value of evidence the most delicate.
Moreover, they were Englishmen, and anything short of downright bullet facts went to favour the woman.
For thus we light the balance of legal injustice toward the sex: we conveniently wink, ma'am. A rough, old-fashioned way for us! Is it a Breach of Promise ?--She may reckon on her damages: we have daughters of our own.
Is it a suit for Divorce ?--Well, we have wives of our own, and we can lash, or we can spare; that's as it may be; but we'll keep the couple tied, let 'em hate as they like, if they can't furnish pork-butchers' reasons for sundering; because the man makes the money in this country .-- My goodness! what a funny people, sir!--It 's our way of holding the balance, ma'am .-- But would it not be better to rectify the law and the social system, dear sir ?--Why, ma'am, we find it comfortabler to take cases as they come, in the style of our fathers .-- But don't you see, my good man, that you are offering scapegoats for the comfort of the majority ?--Well, ma'am, there always were scapegoats, and always will be; we find it comes round pretty square in the end. 'And I may be the scapegoat, Emmy! It is perfectly possible.
The grocer, the pork-butcher, drysalter, stationer, tea-merchant, et caetera--they sit on me.
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