'Well, I will be quite as grave as the occasion requires,' said Anne.
'I believe I ought to have used the word kindness, as that is as
active in good as ill-nature in evil. But pray, Lizzie, do not let
us get into any of these abstruse metaphysical discussions, or we
shall arrive at conclusions as wise as when we reasoned ourselves
into saying, nine years ago, that it was better to be naughty than
good, because good people in books were always stupid.'

'Idle as we were,' said Elizabeth, smiling, 'I do not think that we
ever intended to act on that maxim. But really, Anne, I do believe
that if you had been a prim pattern of perfection, a real good little
girl, a true Miss Jenny Meek, who never put her foot in a puddle,
never tore her frock, never spoke above her breath, and never laughed
louder than a sucking dove, I should never have cared two straws for
you.'

'I think little Dora might convince you that goodness and stupidity
need not always be united,' said Anne, after a short pause.

'Demure Dolly, as Horace calls her,' said Elizabeth, 'yes, she is a
very choice specimen; but, sweet little thing as she is, she would
not be half so good a subject for a story as our high-spirited Horace
and wild Winifred. Dora is like peaceful times in history--very
pleasant to have to do with, but not so entertaining to read about.'

'Poor Dora, I thought she looked disconsolate as well as demure,
without Horace,' said Anne.

'She has been very forlorn, poor child,' said Elizabeth; 'there was