is, the vote on her side of all her husband’s visiting friends.  ’My husband thinks so and so, and I think so and so; now, Mr. Tomkins, don’t you think I am right?’ To be sure he does; and so does Mr. Jenkins, and so does Wilkins, and so does Mr. Dickins, and you would swear that they were all her kins.  Now this is very foolish, to say the least of it.  None of these complaisant kins would like this in their own case.  It is the fashion to say aye to all that a woman asserts, or contends for, especially in contradiction to her husband; and a very pernicious fashion it is.  It is, in fact, not to pay her a compliment worthy of acceptance, but to treat her as an empty and conceited fool; and no sensible woman will, except from mere inadvertence, make the appeal.  This fashion, however, foolish and contemptible as it is in itself, is attended, very frequently, with serious consequences.  Backed by the opinions of her husband’s friends, the wife returns to the charge with redoubled vigour and obstinacy; and if you do not yield, ten to one but a quarrel is the result; or, at least, something approaching towards it.  A gentleman at whose house I was, about five years ago, was about to take a farm for his eldest son, who was a very fine young man, about eighteen years old.  The mother, who was as virtuous and as sensible a woman as I have ever known, wished him to be ‘in the law.’  There were six or eight intimate friends present, and all unhesitatingly joined the lady, thinking it a pity that HARRY, who had had ’such a good education,’ should be buried in a farm-house.  ’And don’t you think so too, Mr. Cobbett,’ said the lady, with great earnestness.  ’Indeed, Ma’am,’ said I, ’I should think it very great presumption in me to offer any opinion at all, and especially in opposition to the known decision of the father, who is the best judge, and the only rightful judge, in such a case.’  This was a very sensible and well-behaved woman, and I still respect her very highly; but I could perceive that I instantly dropped out of her good graces.  Harry, however, I was glad to hear, went ‘to be buried in the farm-house.’

189.  ‘A house divided against itself,’ or, rather, in itself, ’cannot stand;’ and it is divided against itself if there be a divided authority.  The wife ought to be heard, and patiently heard; she ought to be reasoned with, and, if possible, convinced; but if, after all endeavours in this way, she remain opposed to the husband’s opinion, his will must be obeyed; or he, at once, becomes nothing; she is, in fact, the master, and he is nothing but an insignificant inmate.  As to matters of little comparative moment; as to what shall be for dinner; as to how the house shall be furnished; as to the management of the house and of menial servants; as to these matters, and many others, the wife may have her way without any danger; but when the questions