bean-about-townn:

I do not seek your partnership because I am too weak to defend myself. I don’t seek it to protect my things or to increase profit. Then why do you? You’ve been gone eight years, and suddenly my partnership is this valuable to you? Why? Eight years. Nine wives. No sons. There is an instinct to leave behind something made in one’s own image. Nature has denied me the ability, it would seem, but not the need.