CHAPTER XXVII


Among Leighton's many pet theories was one that he called the axiom of
the propitious moment. Any tyro at life could tell that a thing needed
saying; skill came in knowing how to wait to say it. At Lady Derl's
dinner Leighton had decided to go away for several months. He had
something to say to Lewis before he went, but he passed nervous days
waiting to say it. Then came the propitious moment. They were sitting
alone over a cheerful small fire that played a sort of joyful
accompaniment to the outdoor struggle of spring against the cold.

"In every society," said Leighton, breaking a long silence, "where women
have been numerically predominant, the popular conception of morality
has been lowered. Your historical limitations are such that you'll have
to take my say-so for the truth of that generality."

"Yes, sir," said Lewis.

"Man's greatest illusion in regard to woman," continued Leighton, "is
that she's fastidious. Men are fastidious and vulgar; women are neither
fastidious nor vulgar. There's a reason. Women have been too intimately
connected through the ages with the slops of life to be fastidious.
That's driven them to look upon natural things with natural eyes. They
know that vulgarity isn't necessary, and they revolt from it. These are
all generalities, of course."

"Yes, sir," said Lewis.