Mr. Fairfax smiled and bade her speak, and then laughing, she said, “Because at eighteen girls tire of grammar and dictionaries and precepts for the conduct of life.  We are women, and want to try life itself.”

“And what do you know to fit you for life?” said Lady Angleby firmly.

“Nothing, except by instinct and precept.”

“Exactly so.  And where is your experience?  You have none.  Girls plunge into life at eighteen destitute of experience—­weak, foolish, ignorant of men and themselves.  No wonder the world is encumbered with so many helpless poor creatures as it is.”

“I should not like to live with only girls till one-and-twenty.  What experience could we teach each other?” said Bessie, rather at sea.  A notion flashed across her that Lady Angleby might be talking nonsense, but as her grandfather seemed to listen with deference, she could not be sure.

“Girls ought to be trained in logic, geometry, and physical science to harden their mental fibre; and how can they be so trained if their education is to cease at eighteen?” Then with a modest tribute to her own undeveloped capacities, the great lady cried, “Oh, what I might have done if I had enjoyed the advantages I claim for others!”

“You don’t know.  You have never yet been thrown on your own resources,” said Bessie with an air of infinite suggestion.

Lady Angleby stared in cold astonishment, but Bessie preserved her gay self-possession.  Lady Angleby’s cold stare was to most persons utterly confusing.  Miss Burleigh, an inattentive listener (perhaps because her state of being was always that of a passive listener), gently observed that she had no idea what any of them would do if they were thrown on their own resources.

“No idea is ever expected from you, Mary,” said her aunt, and turned her stony regard upon the poor lady, causing her to collapse with a silent shiver.  Bessie felt indignant.  What was this towering old woman, with her theory of feminine freedom and practice of feminine tyranny?  There was a momentary hush, and then Lady Angleby with pompous complacency resumed, addressing the squire: 

“Our large scheme cannot be carried into effect without the general concurrence of the classes we propose to benefit, but our pet plan for proving to what women may be raised demands the concurrence of only a few influential persons.  I am sanguine that the government will yield to our representations, and make us a grant for the foundation of a college to be devoted to their higher education.  We ask for twenty thousand pounds.”

“I hope the government will have more wit,” Mr. Fairfax exclaimed, his rallying tone taking the sting out of his words.  “The private hobbies of you noble ladies must be supported out of your private purses, at the expense of more selfish whims.”

“There is nothing so unjust as prejudice, unless it be jealousy,” exclaimed Lady Angleby with delicious unreason.  “You would keep women in subjection.”