“I suppose they generally don’t like to be deserted,” said Eteoneus—“that is, so long as they like the man; when they grow tired of him, he can’t desert too soon. But generally, as I said, you women like attention. As to the other parts of the tragedy you sketch, it’s all bosh, Hermione. Women aren’t seduced. I know what I’m talking about. They want the men and the men want them. They both get what they want, and as far as I can see, the men get the worst of it.”

“I’d no idea you were such a woman-hater,” said Hermione. “So hard in your emotions! I thought experience brought more tenderness.”

“I’m no woman-hater,” said Eteoneus. “I simply happen to have some of that experience you speak of. You can’t tell me much about women.”

“You’ve never been married, I believe,” said Hermione.

“Do you interpret that fact to mean I don’t know anything about women?” said Eteoneus. “It’s the proof of my wisdom.”

“Oh, that’s all very well for a joke, Eteoneus, but the fact that you’ve avoided my sex doesn’t prove you understand their feelings, their sufferings under the treatment they receive from men.”

“I suppose I’ll have to speak plainly if I’m to get anywhere in this argument,” said Eteoneus, “and I’m not sure you’ll like me any better after I’ve spoken, but the fact is, Hermione, I belong to the older and tougher generation which you despise; my manners before age reduced me to gate-keeping were quite correct by the standards of our time, but they would seem to you—what was your word?—brutal. I haven’t avoided women. You misunderstood me; I avoided marriage.”

“Oh!” said Hermione … “I’m sorry to say there are still a number of men who lead that sort of life.”

“Yes, a number of men,” said Eteoneus, “and several women in your family.”

“Don’t you think it’s wrong?” said Hermione. “I always supposed you didn’t approve of my mother’s conduct.”

“Certainly not,” said Eteoneus. “All irregularities should be punished, if society is to last, but it’s natural to do it, after all. I tell you, Hermione, your mother’s running away didn’t surprise me much; women will do anything. What disturbed me was your father’s forgiving her.”

“Did you think this way in your young wild days,” said Hermione, “when you were teaching girls to do wrong?”

“Fiddlesticks,” said Eteoneus, “you can’t teach women anything. Yes, I always thought this way. Wrong is wrong, but some of it is natural. I ought to have been punished, I dare say. I wasn’t. It would have been worth it.”