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suppress it。 The most adroit employ a somewhat elaborate reserve
as a means to be frank； much as they wear gloves when they shake
hands。 But a man has the full responsibility of his freedom；
cannot evade a question； can scarce be silent without rudeness；
must answer for his words upon the moment； and is not seldom left
face to face with a damning choice； between the more or less
dishonourable wriggling of Deronda and the downright woodenness of
Vernon Whitford。
But the superiority of women is perpetually menaced； they do not
sit throned on infirmities like the old； they are suitors as well
as sovereigns； their vanity is engaged； their affections are too
apt to follow； and hence much of the talk between the sexes
degenerates into something unworthy of the name。 The desire to
please； to shine with a certain softness of lustre and to draw a
fascinating picture of oneself； banishes from conversation all that
is sterling and most of what is humorous。 As soon as a strong
current of mutual admiration begins to flow； the human interest
triumphs entirely over the intellectual； and the commerce of words；
consciously or not； becomes secondary to the commencing of eyes。
But even where this ridiculous danger is avoided； and a man and
woman converse equally and honestly； something in their nature or
their education falsifies the strain。 An instinct prompts them to
agree； and where that is impossible； to agree to differ。 Should
they neglect the warning； at the first suspicion of an argument；
they find themselves in different hemispheres。 About any point of
business or conduct； any actual affair demanding settlement； a
woman will speak and listen； hear and answer arguments； not only
with natural wisdom； but with candour and logical honesty。 But if
the subject of debate be something in the air； an abstraction； an
excuse for talk； a logical Aunt Sally； then may the male debater
instantly abandon hope； he may employ reason； adduce facts； be
supple； be smiling； be angry； all shall avail him nothing； what the
woman said first； that （unless she has forgotten it） she will
repeat at the end。 Hence； at the very junctures when a talk
between men grows brighter and quicker and begins to promise to
bear fruit； talk between the sexes is menaced with dissolution。
The point of difference； the point of interest； is evaded by the
brilliant woman； under a shower of irrelevant conversational
rockets； it is bridged by the discreet woman with a rustle of silk；
as she passes smoothly forward to the nearest point of safety。 And
this sort of prestidigitation； juggling the dangerous topic out of
sight until it can be reintroduced with safety in an altered shape；
is a piece of tactics among the true drawing…room queens。
The drawing…room is； indeed； an artificial place； it is so by our
choice and for our sins。 The subjection of women； the ideal
imposed upon them from the cradle； and worn； like a hair…shirt；
with so much constancy； their motherly； superior tenderness to
man's vanity and self…importance； their managing arts … the arts of
a civilised slave among good…natured barbarians … are all painful
ingredients and all help to falsify relations。 It is not till we
get clear of that amusing artificial scene that genuine relations
are founded； or ideas honestly compared。 In the garden； on the
road or the hillside； or TETE…A…TETE and apart from interruptions；
occasions arise when we may learn much from any single woman； and
nowhere more often than in married life。 Marriage is one long
conversation； chequered by disputes。 The disputes are valueless；
they but ingrain the difference； the heroic heart of woman
prompting her at once to nail her colours to the mast。 But in the
intervals； almost unconsciously and with no desire to shine； the
whole material of life is turned over and over； ideas are struck
out and shared； the two persons more and more adapt their notions
one to suit the other； and in process of time； without sound of
trumpet； they conduct each other into new worlds of thought。
CHAPTER XII。 THE CHARACTER OF DOGS
THE civilisation； the manners； and the morals of dog…kind are to a
great extent subordinated to those of his ancestral master； man。
This animal； in many ways so superior； has accepted a position of
inferiority； shares the domestic life； and humours the caprices of
the tyrant。 But the potentate； like the British in India； pays
small regard to the character of his willing client； judges him
with listless glances； and condemns him in a byword。 Listless have
been the looks of his admirers； who have exhausted idle terms of
praise； and buried the poor soul below exaggerations。 And yet more
idle and； if possible； more unintelligent has been the attitude of
his express detractors； those who are very fond of dogs 〃but in
their proper place〃； who say 〃poo' fellow； poo' fellow；〃 and are
themselves far poorer； who whet the knife of the vivisectionist or
heat his oven； who are not ashamed to admire 〃the creature's
instinct〃； and flying far beyond folly； have dared to resuscitate
the theory of animal machines。 The 〃dog's instinct〃 and the
〃automaton…dog；〃 in this age of psychology and science； sound like
strange anachronisms。 An automaton he certainly is； a machine
working independently of his control； the heart； like the mill…
wheel； keeping all in motion； and the consciousness； like a person
shut in the mill garret； enjoying the view out of the window and
shaken by the thunder of the stones； an automaton in one corner of
which a living spirit is confined： an automaton like man。 Instinct
again he certainly possesses。 Inherited aptitudes are his；
inherited frailties。 Some things he at once views and understands；
as though he were awakened from a sleep； as though he came
〃trailing clouds of glory。〃 But with him； as with man； the field
of instinct is limited； its utterances are obscure and occasional；
and about the far larger part of life both the dog and his master
must conduct their steps by deduction and observation。
The leading distinction between dog and man； after and perhaps
before the different duration of their lives； is that the one can
speak and that the other cannot。 The absence of the power of
speech confines the dog in the development of his intellect。 It
hinders him from many speculations； for words are the beginning of
meta…physic。 At the same blow it saves him from many
superstitions； and his silence has won for him a higher name for
virtue than his conduct justifies。 The faults of the dog are many。
He is vainer than man； singularly greedy of notice； singularly
intolerant of ridicule； suspicious like the deaf； jealous to the
degree of frenzy； and radically devoid of truth。 The day of an
intelligent small dog is passed in the manufacture and the
laborious communication of fal