He smiled again at my unfamiliar pronunciation.

I established myself on the divan near him, and inquired whether he had arrived at any satisfactory solution of his domestic difficulties.
"My father," he said, "upon whom be peace, had but one wife, my mother.
You know Mussulmans are allowed four lawful wives.

Here is the passage in the beginning of the fourth chapter, 'If ye fear that ye shall not act with equity towards orphans of the female sex, take in marriage of such other women as please you, two, or three, or four, and not more.
But, if ye fear that ye cannot act equitably towards so many, marry one only, or the slaves which ye shall have acquired.' "The first part of this passage," continued Isaacs, "is disputed; I mean the words referring to orphans.

But the latter portion is plain enough.
When the apostle warns those who fear they 'cannot act equitably towards so many,' I am sure that in his wisdom he meant something more by 'equitable' treatment than the mere supplying of bodily wants.

He meant us to so order our households that there should be no jealousies, no heart-burnings, no unnecessary troubling of the peace.