THE GROWTH OF THE TIE 21 



doubt, prepared to deny that their jealousy has so 

 prosaic a basis as self-interest, and they are so far right 

 that they are not consciously swayed by that motive. 



The truth is that in both sexes jealousy has long 

 become instinctive, and its true origin is conse- 

 quently obscured or lost sight of. The jealousy of 

 women remains none the less essentially different in 

 its purposes from the jealousy of men. In the one case, 

 the instinct is designed to ensure protection to the 

 woman who is rendered dependent by child-bearing, 

 and in the other its object is to regulate the paternity 

 of children. The husband's infidelity can be repaired 

 and forgiven ; the wife's, on the other hand, as regards 

 its consequences, is irreparable. It is the merest 

 sophistry therefore to argue that the offences of hus- 

 bands and wives ought to be equalised before the law, 

 and so truly is this felt by women that they them- 

 selves are the severest judges of an erring sister, while 

 to an erring husband they are wondrous kind. 



What we have said of the growth of the instinct 

 of chastity explains the futility of the arguments ad- 

 vanced from time to time to condone the position of 

 fallen women, and to secure their recognition in society 

 as victims rather than sinners. The fallen woman is 

 one who has swerved from a standard of right and 



