evils.
After all, monogamous marriage was instituted for the protection of
women, and has been held sacred in the great and noble ages of the
world. Quite apart from the moral point of view, however, polygamy could
only be possible in a tropical climate, where the necessities of life
were reduced to a minimum, and one could live on dates and rice, but as
the average man in our glorious Free Trade country can't afford to keep
one wife, in decent comfort, let alone several--I ask, how in the name
of the bank rate--?'

'You stockbroking chaps are so devilish sordid,' returned the Weary
Roue. 'Didn't I say _in the abstract_? Of course I know it wouldn't do
practically, not yet anyway, but honestly I believe it would go far to
solve the whole sex problem.'

'You neither of you seem to take the woman into consideration at all,'
piped the Bluestocking. 'Do you suppose we modern women with our
resources and our education would consider such an idea for a moment?'

'Well, what do you think?' asked the Weary Roue, with diplomatic
deference.

To our surprise the Bluestocking began to blush, and her blush is not
the coy, irresponsible flushing of an ordinary girl, but a painful rush
of blood to the face under stress of deep earnestness, the kind of blush
which forces one to look away.

'Well,' she said, with a gulp, 'I think, perhaps--they might.' It was
obvious the admission had cost her something. We were all dumfounded.
The Family Egotist forgot his burning desire for speech and ceased to
threaten his wineglass; the Gentle Lady was quite excited; the Weary
Roue became almost alert, and the Good Stockbroker looked as if he were
about to burst into tears.

'I think women might not be averse from polygamy--as a choice of evils,'
continued the little Bluestocking bravely, 'for the present waste of
womanhood in this country is a very serious evil. Of course the
financial conditions make it impossible, as the Good Stockbroker says,
but if it _were_ possible, if it were instituted for highest motives,
and in an entirely honourable, open manner authorised and sanctioned by
the--er--the proper people--I think women could concur in it without any
loss of self-respect, especially if the first ardent love of youth were
over. After that, and when a woman forgets herself, having truly found
herself, in the love and care of her children and a larger view of life
and its duties--then I think most women could be happy in such
circumstan