compact. And

The most complicated of modern communities has no whit altered the
relationship of man to mate, conceal though it may the origin and history
of marriage. Finally,

No woman at the bottom of her heart has any objection to being owned.
Indeed (though no woman would say it, a man may),

Every woman at the bottom of her heart delights to be owned, and tacitly
and secretly seeks the man who she thinks will glory in that ownership
and keep his property safe--not only from material harms, but from
temptations to changes of ownership. In which last little fact lies a
curious truth.

Women like to be defended against themselves. In this little matter men
and women differ: That any other man should dare for one instant to
covet or alienate (5) that most precious of his possessions, his mate,
--nothing rouses to a higher pitch man's unappeasable wrath than this;

Against the man so daring, a woman's wrath is never roused: rather she
regards him as one having discernment, and his daring is a commendable
compliment to herself. In fine, and in short,

Allegiance, to a man, on the part of a woman, means, in her eyes, loyalty
to him who properly exercises the right of ownership. In simple truth,

A woman gives herself to a man: to the man who proves himself worthy the
gift, she is true.