Once, when she had ventured to remonstrate with her regarding her attitude of woman's equality with man, she felt as if Stephen's barque was indeed entering on dangerous seas.

The occasion had arisen thus: Stephen had been what her aunt had stigmatised as 'laying down the law' with regard to the position a married woman, and Miss Rowly, seeing a good argumentative opening, remarked: 'But what if a woman does not get the opportunity of being married ?' Stephen looked at her a moment before saying with conviction: 'It is a woman's fault if she does not get the opportunity!' The old lady smiled as she answered: 'Her fault?
My dear, what if no man asks her ?' This seemed to her own mind a poser.
'Still her own fault! Why doesn't she ask him ?' Her aunt's lorgnon was dropped in horrified amazement.
Stephen went on impassively.
'Certainly! Why shouldn't she?
Marriage is a union.

As it is in the eye of the law a civil contract, either party to it should be at liberty to originate the matter.

If a woman is not free to think of a man in all ways, how is she to judge of the suitability of their union?
And if she is free in theory, why not free to undertake if necessary the initiative in a matter so momentous to herself ?' The old lady actually groaned and wrung her hands; she was horrified at such sentiments.

They were daring enough to think; but to put them in words!.