Chapter 18.14 - Shirley

"'Women may exercise it as well as men?' "'Nay, women is to take their husband's opinions, both in politics and religion. It's wholesomest for them.' "'Oh, oh!' exclaimed both Shirley and Caroline. "'To be sure, no doubt, aunt,' persisted the stubborn overlooker. "'Consider yourself groaned down and cried shame over for such a stupid observation,' said Miss Kieldar. "'You may as well say, men are to take the opinions of their priests without examination. Of what value would a religion so adopted be? It would be mere blind, besotted superstition.'" "'And what is your reading, Miss Halston, of these words of St. Paul's?' "'Um, I—I account for them in this way. He wrote that chapter for a particular congregation of Christians, under peculiar circumstances. And besides, I dare say if I could read the original Greek, I should find that many of the words have been wrongly translated, perhaps misapprehended altogether. It would be possible, I doubt not, with a little ingenuity, to give the passage quite a contrary turn, to make it say, "'Let the woman speak out, whenever she sees fit, to make an objection.' "'It is permitted to a woman to teach and to exercise authority, as much as may be. Man, meantime, cannot do better than hold his peace,' and so on." "'That won't wash, Miss.'" "'I dare say it will. My notions are dyed in faster colours than yours, Joe. Mr. Scott, you are a thoroughly dogmatical person, and always were. I like William better than you.'" "'Joe is well enough in his own house,' said Shirley. "'I have seen him as quiet as a lamb at home. There is not a better nor kinder husband in Briarfield. He does not dogmatise to his wife.'"