Women of that stage of culture are quite able to defend themselves and have no welcome for unseasonable visitors." We talked and talked.
And with all my airs of sociological superiority I was no nearer than any of them.
It was funny though, in the light of what we did find, those extremely clear ideas of ours as to what a country of women would be like.

It was no use to tell ourselves and one another that all this was idle speculation.

We were idle and we did speculate, on the ocean voyage and the river voyage, too.
"Admitting the improbability," we'd begin solemnly, and then launch out again.
"They would fight among themselves," Terry insisted.

"Women always do.
We mustn't look to find any sort of order and organization." "You're dead wrong," Jeff told him.

"It will be like a nunnery under an abbess--a peaceful, harmonious sisterhood." I snorted derision at this idea.
"Nuns, indeed! Your peaceful sisterhoods were all celibate, Jeff, and under vows of obedience.