"
I rose, strengthened by the resentment I felt, and said: "Do I understand
that in your former competitive conditions it was also impossible for a
woman to be a lady?"
The professor gave me an applausive nod as I sat down. "I envy you the
chance of that little dig," he whispered.
The Altrurian was thoughtful a moment, and then he answered: "No, I should
not say it was. From what we know historically of those conditions in our
country, it appears that the great mass of women were not directly
affected by them. They constituted an altruistic dominion of the egoistic
empire, and, except as they were tainted by social or worldly ambitions,
it was possible for every woman to be a lady, even in competitive
conditions. Her instincts were unselfish, and her first thoughts were
nearly always of others."
Mrs. Makely jumped to her feet and clapped violently with her fan on the
palm of her left hand. "Three cheers for Mr. Homos!" she shrieked, and all
the women took up the cry, supported by all the natives and the
construction gang. I fancied these fellows gave their support largely in a
spirit of burlesque; but they gave it robustly, and from that time on,
Mrs.
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