"Ah! Jane Hardie has a fault which will always prevent her from eclipsing
your humble servant in this wicked world."

"What is that?"

"She is too good. Much."

"Par exemple?"

"Too religious."

"Oh, that is another matter."

"For shame, mamma! I am glad to hear it: for I scorn a life of frivolity;
but then, again, I should not like to give up everything, you know." Mrs.
Dodd looked a little staggered, too, at so vast a scheme of capitulation
But "everything" was soon explained to mean balls, concerts,
dinner-parties in general, tea-parties without exposition of Scripture,
races, and operas, cards, charades, and whatever else amuses society
without perceptibly sanctifying it. All these, by Julia's account, Miss
Hardie had renounced, and was now denouncing (with the young the latter
verb treads on the very heels of the former). "And, you know, she is a
district visitor."

This climax delivered, Julia stopped short, and awaited the result.

Mrs. Dodd heard it all with quiet disapproval and cool incredulity. She
had seen so many young ladies healed of many young enthusiasms by a
wedding ring. But, while she was searching diligently in her mine of
ladylike English--mine with plenty of water in it, begging her