Jezebels Daughter | Page 6

she
did unquestionably possess. Under ordinary circumstances, she was a
singularly gentle, unobtrusive creature. But let the occasion call for it,
and the reserves of resolution in her showed themselves instantly. In all
my experience I have never met with such a firm woman, when she
was once roused.
She entered on her business with us, wasting no time in preliminary
words. Her face showed plain signs, poor soul, of a wakeful and tearful
night. But she claimed no indulgence on that account. When she spoke
of her dead husband--excepting a slight unsteadiness in her voice--she
controlled herself with a courage which was at once pitiable and
admirable to see.
"You both know," she began, "that Mr. Wagner was a man who
thought for himself. He had ideas of his duty to his poor and afflicted
fellow-creatures which are in advance of received opinions in the world
about us. I love and revere his memory--and (please God) I mean to

carry out his ideas."
The lawyer began to look uneasy. "Do you refer, madam, to Mr.
Wagner's political opinions?" he inquired.
Fifty years ago, my old master's political opinions were considered to
be nothing less than revolutionary. In these days--when his Opinions
have been sanctioned by Acts of Parliament, with the general approval
of the nation--people would have called him a "Moderate Liberal," and
would have set him down as a discreetly deliberate man in the march of
modern progress.
"I have nothing to say about politics," my aunt answered. "I wish to
speak to you, in the first place, of my husband's opinions on the
employment of women.
Here, again, after a lapse of half a century, my master's heresies of the
year 1828 have become the orthodox principles of the year 1878.
Thinking the subject over in his own independent way, he had arrived
at the conclusion that there were many employments reserved
exclusively for men, which might with perfect propriety be also thrown
open to capable and deserving women. To recognize the claims of
justice was, with a man of Mr. Wagner's character, to act on his
convictions without a moment's needless delay. Enlarging his London
business at the time, he divided the new employments at his disposal
impartially between men and women alike. The scandal produced in the
city by this daring innovation is remembered to the present day by old
men like me. My master's audacious experiment prospered nevertheless,
in spite of scandal.
"If my husband had lived," my aunt continued, "it was his intention to
follow the example, which he has already set in London, in our house
at Frankfort. There also our business is increasing, and we mean to add
to the number of our clerks. As soon as I am able to exert myself, I
shall go to Frankfort, and give German women the same opportunities
which my husband has already given to English women in London. I
have his notes on the best manner of carrying out this reform to guide
me. And I think of sending you, David," she added, turning to me, "to

our partners in Frankfort, Mr. Keller and Mr. Engelman, with
instructions which will keep some of the vacant situations in the office
open, until I can follow you." She paused, and looked at the lawyer.
"Do you see any objection to what I propose?" she said.
"I see some risks," he answered, cautiously.
"What risks?"
"In London, madam, the late Mr. Wagner had special means of
investigating the characters of the women whom he took into his office.
It may not be so easy for you, in a strange place like Frankfort, to guard
against the danger----" He hesitated, at a loss for the moment to express
himself with sufficient plainness and sufficient delicacy.
My aunt made no allowances for his embarrassment.
"Don't be afraid to speak out, sir," she said, a little coldly. "What
danger are you afraid of?"
"Yours is a generous nature, madam: and generous natures are easily
imposed upon. I am afraid of women with bad characters, or, worse still,
of other women----"
He stopped again. This time there was a positive interruption. We heard
a knock at the door.
Our head-clerk was the person who presented himself at the summons
to come in. My aunt held up her hand. "Excuse me, Mr. Hartrey--I will
attend to you in one moment." She turned to the lawyer. "What other
women are likely to impose on me?" she asked.
"Women, otherwise worthy of your kindness, who may be associated
with disreputable connections," the lawyer replied. "The very women,
if I know anything of your quick sympathies, whom you would be most
anxious to help, and who might nevertheless be a source of constant
trouble and anxiety, under pernicious influences at home."

My aunt made no answer. For