Tertullian complimented her with corrupting those whom Satan dare not
attack; and then there was St. Chrysostom--really he was much more
charitable than his fellow Saints--it always seemed to me he was not
only more humane but more human--more interested, you might say. You
know he said, 'Woman is a necessary evil, a domestic peril, a deadly
fascination, a painted ill.' It always seemed to me St. Chrysostom had a
past. But really, I think they all went too far. I don't know woman very
well, but I suspect she has to find her moral authority where man finds
his--within herself."

"You know what made me ask--a little woman in town came to see Allan not
long ago to know if she mightn't leave her husband--she had what seemed
to her sufficient reason."

"I imagine Allan said 'no.'"

"He did. Would you have advised her differently?"

"Bless you, no. I'd advise her to obey her priest. The fact that she
consulted him shows that she has no law of her own. St. Paul said this
wise and deep thing: 'I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that
there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him that esteemeth anything
unclean, to him it is unclean!'"

"Then it lay in her own view of it. If she had felt free to go, she
would have done right to go."

"Naturally."

"Yet Allan talked to her about the sanctity of the home."