The analysis of this patient’s reactions was difficult and as much surmised as acknowledged.  With her breakdown her husband’s affection immediately revived and his solicitude and tenderness awoke her old feeling, together with remorse for her attitude towards his lack of business success.  It was obvious to me in the few times I saw her that she was working out her own salvation and that no one’s assistance was necessary after she understood herself.  Intelligence is a prime essential to cure in such cases,—­an ignorant or unintelligent woman with such reactions cannot be dealt with.  Gradually her intelligence took command, new resolves and purposes grew out of her illness, and it may confidently be said that though she never will be a phlegmatic observer of her husband’s struggles she has conquered her old criticism and hostility.

Case VII.  The nondomestic type and the mother-in-law.

That there is a nondomestic type of woman to-day is due to the rise of feminism and the fascination of industry.  Where a woman has once been in the swirl of business, has been part of an organization and has tasted financial success, settling down may be possible, but is much more difficult than to the woman of past generations.  Such a woman probably has never cooked a meal, or mended a stocking, or washed dishes,—­and she has been financially independent.  For love of a man she gives all this up, and even under the best of circumstances has her agonies of doubt and rebellion.

Mrs. A. O’L. had added to these difficulties the mother-in-law question.  She was an orphan when she married, and was the private secretary of a business man who because she was efficient and intelligent and loyal gave her a good salary.  She knew his affairs almost as well as he did and was treated with deference by the entire organization.

She married at twenty-six a man entirely worthy of her love, a junior official in a bank, looked on as a rising man, of excellent personal habits and attractive physique.  She resigned her position gladly and went into the home he furnished, prepared to become a good wife and mother.

Unfortunately there already was a woman in the house, Mr. O’L.’s mother.  She was a good lady, a widow, and had made her home with the son for some years.  She was a capable, efficient housewife, with a narrow range of sympathies, and with no ambitions.  There arose at once the almost inevitable conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Some day perhaps we shall know just why the husband’s mother and his wife get along best under two roofs, though the husband’s father presents no great difficulties.  Perhaps in the attachment of a mother to a son there is something of jealousy, which is aroused against the other woman; perhaps women are more fiercely critical of women than men are.  Perhaps the mother, if she has a good son, is apt to think no woman good enough for him, and if she is not consulted in the choosing is apt to feel resentment.  Perhaps to be supplanted as mistress of the household or to fear such supplantment is the basic factor.  At any rate, the old Chinese pictorial representation of trouble as “two women under one roof” represents the state in most cases where mother-in-law and daughter-in-law live together.