The curiousnature of his proposal did not escape
Sophias scrutiny. She sees no meannessin earning, but in those that think it
mean.
He was strong and young and passionately in
love;the father was old.
And must we not, anddo we not change this
unalterable nature?
She cried bitterly at not beingtaught
things.
We, beingunscientific, have named it wrongly.
Patrick Brontë to hidethe real nature of their emotions from themselves. It was
easyfor Mr Barrett, Mr Jex-Blake and the Rev. Each is strong separately; together
they are very strong. Tom being a manwould not be lowered; it was her sex that made
the difference. The psychologist, therefore, can only throw light upon certainfacts.
Bymaking their absence felt their presence becomes desirable.
You will pardon us therefore if we pause here
toexamine this report in some detail.
Againwith your leave we will call it a case of
infantile fixation.
Society it seems was a father, and afflicted with
the infantilefixation too. You may have observed it in reallife; you may have
detected it in biography. The case of Mr Barrett of WimpoleStreet is, perhaps, the
most famous and the best authenticated. But that was notall that she attempted upon
three hundred a year.
That permissionwas instantly and heatedly refused.
Also the desire for an open and rational love wasbehind it.
Others wanted to travel; to explore Africa; to dig
inGreece and Palestine.
Nor could theydeny it, nor wish to renounce it.
Bymaking their absence felt their presence becomes desirable. Taking moneyfor work
did not lower Tom in anybodys eyes. Happily we haveone at hand whose credentials are
above suspicion.
It was easyfor Mr Barrett, Mr Jex-Blake and the
Rev. For it seems to show that to bepassive is to be active; those also serve who
remain outside.