"Of course I don't mean to judge between them," Rose pursued. "I can
only judge between my mother and myself. Papa couldn't judge for
me." And with this she got up.

"One would think you were horrid. I never thought so before."

"Thank you for that."

"You're embarking on a struggle with society," continued Mrs.
Tramore, indulging in an unusual flight of oratory. "Society will
put you in your place."

"Hasn't it too many other things to do?" asked the girl.

This question had an ingenuity which led her grandmother to meet it
with a merely provisional and somewhat sketchy answer. "Your
ignorance would be melancholy if your behaviour were not so insane."

"Oh, no; I know perfectly what she'll do!" Rose replied, almost
gaily. "She'll drag me down."

"She won't even do that," the old lady declared contradictiously.
"She'll keep you forever in the same dull hole."

"I shall come and see YOU, granny, when I want something more
lively."

"You may come if you like, but you'll come no further than the door.
If you leave this house now you don't enter it again."