conceal from her mother-in-law anything calculated to distress
that lady."

"I suppose you mean that to be nice?" said Dolly.

"Of course," I answered; and I proceeded: "She never gives pain
to any one, except with the object of giving pleasure to somebody
else, and her kindness is no less widely diffused than it is
hearty and sincere."

"That really is nice," said Dolly, smiling.

"Thank you," said I, smiling also. "She is very charitable; she
takes a pleasure in encouraging the shy and bashful--"

"How do you know that?" asked Dolly.

"While," I pursued, "suffering without impatience a considerable
amount of self-assurance."

"You can't know whether I'm patient or not," remarked Dolly.
"I'm polite."

"She thinks," I read on, "no evil of the most attractive of
women, and has a smile for the most unattractive of men."

"You put that very nicely," said Dolly, nodding.

"The former may constantly be seen in her house--and the latter
at least as often as many people would think desirable." (Here