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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 Excerpt:...her but an ignis fatuus light, assuring her downfall before the superior and more disciplined forces of masculine intelligence. After some discussion of a divorce case which had lately attracted much attention, where the husband's petition had been rejected, Sherrard, after a short pause, remarked that Mrs. L had been in luck. ' In short,' he continued, ' luck, not justice, rules. If some modern devil would suddenly unroof the southwest district or any district, even the respectable northwest middle class quarter, I wonder how many church-going propriety professing matrons would escape unscathed!" "More than you imagine, probably," said Deen, thoughtfully. ' After all, the question, What is real morality? if answered truly, would sweep away lots of laws which men have imposed on those who are weaker than themselves. ' "That is probable" (a reply which disappointed Sherrard a little; he expected an outburst in praise of virtue). "I am inclined to believe that all morality is comprised in the rule, 'Do unto others as you would be done by,' but from this many by-laws have diverged. Society requires a good deal of compulsory self-denial to keep it safe and sound, and we owe it to our neighbours to pay this tax on our selfishness.' ' And a deuced heavy tax we are called upon to pay! For instance, what an absurd invention marriage is. Just think what human nature is, and then what the legal obligations of matrimony are, and the amazing thing it is to find a case in which they are ever kept? Picture to yourself the appalling sameness of living all the days of your life with one woman or one man?' Deen laughed. ' I grant it seems an unpromising arrangement; but as it grows out of the necessities of our social life it succeeds on the wh...