This morning as I was accidentally passing under her window I saw
her at it and lifted my hat. She leaned over with her cheek in
her palm, and said, smiling,

"You mustn't spoil Sylvia!"

"What is my definite offence in that regard?"

"Too much arbor, too many flowers, too much fine treatment."

"Does fine treatment ever harm anybody? Is it not bad treatment
that spoils people?"

"Good treatment may never spoil people who are old enough to know
its rarity and value. But you say you are a student of nature;
have you not observed that nature never lets the sugar get to things
until they are ripe? Children must be kept tart."

"The next time that Miss Sylvia comes over, then, I am to give
her a tremendous scolding and a big basket of green apples."

"Or, what is worse, suppose you encourage her to study the Greatest
Common Divisor? I am trying to get her ready for school in the
fall."

"Is she being educated for a teacher?"

"You know that Southern ladies never teach."