Let us be glad if we put a few of them in the way of living single with no more discontent than an unmarried man experiences.
Miss Rhoda Nunn becomes impatient of the slow progress women make. Being a revolutionary and rebel at heart, she is not ready to make compromises. Rhoda wants everything at once. Her idea is that women shouldn’t marry and focus on the emancipation movement. However, her friend doesn’t share her views. Mary Barfoot says that they should be “glad” if they manage to put “a few” in the way “of living single with no more discontent than an unmarried man experiences.” She knows that Rome can’t be built in a day.
Is such a life worthy of the name?
Alice and Virginia’s position is not very promising. Virginia has “only one pound” left whilst Alice has “more than four pounds still.” Supposing neither of them “obtains employment before the end of this year,” they have to live “more than six months” on the little money they have now. The sisters don’t want to discourage each other, so they continue repeating that they “could do it.” If it comes “to the very worst,” their food “need not cost more than sixpence a day.” “Is such a life worthy of the name?” thinks Virginia, for she knows that they simply can’t live like that.
Self-sacrifice may be quite wrong, I’m afraid.
Virginia goes to visit Miss Nunn, secretly hoping that this meeting could be of some help.”Younger only by a year or two than Virginia,” she is yet “far from presenting any sorrowful image of a person on the way to old-maidenhood.” “I ought to have written,” says Virginia. The only problem is that she has nothing but “groans and moans to send.” It is a “troublesome and depressing time” with her. However, Miss Nunn has none of it. She sees right through her friend. Virginia has already given up on her life. “Self-sacrifice may be quite wrong,” says Rhoda and – for the first time – Virginia questions her actions.
