" She looked half-
shyly at Ethel and asked her quietly: "Don't you like men?"
"Not much," answered Ethel, indifferently.
"Just dogs?" persisted Peg.
"You can trust THEM," and Ethel caressed "PET'S" little pink snout.
"That's thrue," agreed Peg. "I like dogs, too. But I like children
betther. Wouldn't ye like to have a child of yer own, Ethel?"
That young lady looked at her horrifiedly: "MARGARET!"
"Well, _I_ would," said Peg. "That's the rale woman in us. Ye know
ye only fondle that animal because ye haven't got a child of yer own
to take in yer arms. Sure that's the reason all the selfish women
have pet dogs. They're afraid to have childhren. I've watched them!
O' course a dog's all very well, but he can't talk to ye, an'
comfort ye, an' cry to ye, an' laugh to ye like a child can."
Peg paused, then pointed to "PET" and launched the following
wonderful statement:
"Sure THAT thing could never be President of the United States. But
if ye had a baby he might grow up to it."
"That's very IRISH," sneered Ethel.
"Faith I think it's very human," answered Peg. "I wish ye had some
more of it, Ethel, acushla." Ethel walked away as though to dismiss
the whole subject. It was most distasteful to her:
"It is not customary for girls to talk about such things.
Pages:
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281