Ourselves, Essays on Women; Essays on Women

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1884. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... HE was a plain, rather hard-featured woman, but with a shrewd, observant air that at least betokened intelligence, if it did not insure amiability. Certainly it did not betoken amiability of the soft, caressing kind usual to women; though she looked like one who would not mind a little hard work for the sake of a friend, and who would sacrifice herself, if need be, for an affection or a principle. But then, she would very probably have nagged all the time she was doing it, and, like all women of her type, would have spoilt an act of heroism by her unpleasant manner of performing it. She was dressed in a severe old-fashioned style--her bonnet, cloak, gown, all being of the mode in use about twenty years ago; a huge worsted-work reticule of a spiky pattern, with a frilled silk top, hung on her arm, and she carried a bird-cage, of which she took as much care as if it had been a baby. Perhaps she took more. Smoking here! she said, sniffing, and looking at the opposite passenger. Some one has been smoking in the carriage! Guard! guard! here! she called, leaning out of the window excitedly. But the guard had gone forward, and was at this moment afflicted with one of those fits of intermittent deafness common to guards when called off duty by testy old ladies intolerant of smoke. Then the lady turned round and glared at all the men through her spectacles, as if she expected to read in their faces signs of the delinquent. But as they were all silent, and suave, and inoffensive, and met her eyes in the purest innocence, she could not pounce, as she was inclined to do, and had to bear the lingering odours as she best could. Such a disgusting habit! said our old maid, snappishly. Ah! times are changed, indeed, since I was a girl! Men were gentlem...