A heated discussion about whether men are braver than women is settled 解决in a rather unexpected way.

The Dinner Party

I first heard this tale in India, where is told as if true -- though any naturalist would know it couldn't be. Later（=afterwards） someone told me that the story appeared in a magazine shortly before the First World War. That magazine story, and the person who wrote it, I have never been able to track down追踪到. The country is India. A colonial official and his wife are giving a large dinner party. They are seated with their guests -- officers and their wives, and a visiting American naturalist -- in their spacious dining room, which has a bare marble floor, open rafters and wide glass doors opening onto a veranda.

A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who says that women have outgrown the jumping-on-a-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouse era and a major who says that they haven't.

"A woman's reaction in any crisis," the major says, "is to scream. And while a man may feel like it, he has that ounce（一点=a little） more of control than a woman has. And that last ounce is what really counts."就是那么一点自制起着关键作用
The American does not join in the argument but watches the other guests. As he looks, he sees a strange expression表情 come over the face of the hostess. She is staring straight ahead, her muscles contracting slightly. She motions to the native boy standing behind her chair and whispers something to him. The boy's eyes widen: he quickly leaves the room.

heated
a. with strong, excited, and often angry feelings 热烈的；激烈的
unexpected
a. not expected 意外的
naturalist
n. one who makes a special study of plants or animals outdoors 博物学家（尤指直接观察动植物者）
shortly
ad. Soon; (in) a little time 不久，马上
colonial
a. of or related to a colony or colonies 殖民地的
spacious
a. big; having much space 广阔的；宽阔的
dining
n. 餐厅
bare
a. not covered (with a carpet); empty 不铺地毯的；赤裸的；光秃的
marble
n. 大理石
rafter
n. one of the sloping beams that support 椽
onto
prep. to a position or point on 到...之上; 向...之上
veranda
n. 阳台
spirited
a. full of spirit; lively
outgrow
vt. leave behind, as one grows older or more mature 长大得使...不再适用; 成长得不再要
mouse
n. 鼠
era
n. 时代，年代
major
n. 少校
crisis
n. time of difficulty, danger, etc. 危机
ounce
n. 盎司;少量
argument
n. discussion by persons who disagree; dispute 争论;辩论
hostess
n. 女主人
muscle
n. 肌肉
contract
vi. become shorter or smaller 收缩 n.合同
contraction
n.
slightly
ad. a little 稍微地
slight
a.
motion
vi. give a signal by moving the hand or head 打手势;点(或摇)头示意