Moreover, he wished to keep Alexina young and superficial, ignorant of
money matters, indifferent to the sordid responsibilities of life. Not only
was the present Alexina no embarrassment whatever to a man full of schemes,
aside from the slow march of business, for getting rich, but she was
infinitely alluring.
He detested business women, intellectual women, women with careers; they
tipped the even balance of the man's world; moreover, they had no accepted
place in the higher social scheme. For women wage-earners he had no
antipathy and much sympathy and consideration, although he underpaid them
cheerfully when circumstances would permit. It was an abiding canker that
his sister was obliged to support herself; he was not ashamed of it, for
nursing was an honorable (and altruistic) profession, and several young
women in his new circle bad taken it up; but he hated it as a man and a
brother. As for her turning herself into an authoress, however, he only
hoped he would make his million before she got herself talked about.
As for Alexina she was the perfect flower of a system lie worshiped and
nothing should mar or change her if his fond surveillance could prevent it.
On the whole he was quite happy at this time, despite his passionate desire
for wealth and his natural resentment, at the attitude of the Abbotts and
their intimate circle of old friends who were so like them that he always
included them in his mind when speaking of "the family.
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