The Gilded Cage by Susannah Bamford Read Free Book Online

and disliked him personally. She also felt uncomfortable with his ideas. But she had to concede he was a powerful speaker. “Yes,” she answered, offering the plate of sandwiches to Lawrence. “Downtown, on William Street. I’m afraid I’m not acquainted with HerrMost, not enough to introduce you, at least. But if you like, I can take you to Schwab’s saloon on First Street. You’ll be welcomed there.”
    Justus Schwab’s saloon was a famous center for radical politics in New York. Columbine was fond of Justus, who had a warmth and humor Johann Most completely lacked.
    Lawrence sipped his tea and watched her. “I sense you’re not sympathetic to anarchism,” he said.
    Columbine took a long sip of tea. “I am primarily a worker for women’s rights,” she answered carefully. “No, I don’t agree with anarchist principles, especially the violent means that Bakunin proposes to demolish the state.”
    â€œI don’t agree with violent means either. But if the masses are to be galvanized, woken up ...”
    â€œI don’t believe,” Columbine said with a thin smile, “that the masses are ever galvanized by violence, Mr. Birch. I’m afraid it has just the opposite effect. It makes the government stronger, for it makes people simply afraid.”
    â€œIt has not been successful in the United States as of yet, Mrs. Nash. Not that I’m proposing it. But if the demolition of the state—by peaceful means—ensures the emancipation of women, surely you couldn’t argue against it.”
    â€œIf I felt that anarchist men were any more interested in the emancipation of women, perhaps,” Columbine said pleasantly. “But Mr. Birch, I’ve learned something from traveling in your circles. Men are men. If there’s any hope for emancipation, it lies with women.”
    Lawrence sipped his tea, obviously too polite to prolong the argument. “It is a pleasure,” he said finally, “to find a woman who does at least consider these matters. I feel as though I’ve been drinking from a mountain spring, Mrs. Nash. San Francisco is rather a desert in that regard.”
    â€œI find that difficult to believe.” Columbine sat erect. Nothing made her frostier than a man’s attempt to flatter her by denigrating her sex.
    He seemed to sense her disapproval, but he merely shrugged. “My fault, I’m sure, as well as my misfortune. In my experience, the formidable minds belonged to men.”
    â€œAsk Justus to introduce you to young Emma Goldman,” Columbine said lightly. “There you will find a formidable mind.”
    â€œI was speaking of San Francisco,” Lawrence said. “Of course in New York things will be different. They already are.” He flashed a smile at her. “Within five minutes I’ve found someone to argue with. That is always a grand discovery, almost as precious as finding a friend. It’s at least as good for the intellect as the soul. And when that someone is the famous Columbine Nash, my good fortune is doubled. I’ve admired you for years, Mrs. Nash. You are a brave and true soul.”
    â€œThank you, Mr. Birch,” Columbine said confusedly.
    Lawrence’s smile held and his blue eyes warmed, and Columbine saw sensuality, and heat. The power of that smile was capable of stirring up a woman’s wild heart. No wonder he was so careful not to deliver it too often. Good Lord, she thought. No wonder Tavish sent him to me. He probably wanted to get him away from his wife.

Three
    L AWRENCE B IRCH SETTLED into the small, cramped room off the kitchen as though it were a suite at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. The lumpy mattress felt like the softest down, and the worn sheets like fine linen. He had come through danger and found paradise: He had landed into a household of women.
    He was a man that had been often called charming, but never by men. It was