Chapter XXXVII: A Woman with a Soul

"A new affectation is to speak of the soul as _feminine_.
For example, the London papers announce the third edition of
'The Soul, HER sorrows, and HER aspirations.'"

I always _thought_ John Bull was a goose; now I _know_ it! _A woman with a soul!_ I guess so! (made out of an old _spare-rib_!) What on earth does _she_ want of a _soul_? First thing you know, she'd be eating of the 'tree of knowledge,' and we had enough of that in _Eve's_ day; I tell you there are none but _masculine souls_.

"It is a matter of astonishment and thanksgiving to me that _men_ condescend to notice _us_ at all. I trust all the sisters feel their inferiority, and know how to keep their place, as well as _I_ do! It's next door to martyrdom when they speak to _me_, I'm in such a 'fluster' for fear I shall make some wretched blunder. It is as much as ever I dare to LOOK at them, but when it comes to TALKING, I'm entirely nonplussed! If by good luck I _catch_ an idea, I chase it round till I lose it; and if I were to swallow a whole dictionary, I couldn't clothe that idea in words! _Oh_, dear! wish I _had_ a 'soul,' just to see how it _would seem_! It would be so refreshing to have a _new sensation_!"