But they were all alike; brutal egoists every one of them, who took no
interest in the children of strangers. No one could ever depend on them.
"No," agreed the husband, "in a case of this sort one can only depend on
oneself."
"Do you mean to insinuate that I ought to give up my work?"
"Oh! You must do as you like about that!"
"And become your slave!"
"No, I don't mean that at all!"
The little one was not at all well; all children are ill occasionally.
He was teething! One day's leave after another! The poor baby suffered
from toothache. She had to soothe him at night, work at the office
during the day, sleepy, tired, anxious, and again take a day off.
The green forester did his best and carried the baby about in his arms
half the night, but he never said a word about his wife's work at the
goods department.
Nevertheless she knew what was in his mind. He was waiting for her to
give in; but he was deceitful and so he said nothing! How treacherous
men were! She hated him; she would sooner kill herself than throw up
her work and "be his slave."
The forester saw quite clearly now that it was impossible for any
woman to emancipate herself from the laws of nature; _under present
circumstances_, he was shrewd enough to add.
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