"And why not, I should like to know?

"IT'S A BARBAROUS, SAVAGE CUSTOM?

"Oh, Mr. Caudle! the sooner you go away from the world, and live in a
cave, the better. You're getting not fit for Christian society.
What next? My ears were bored and--What?

"SO ARE YOURS?

"I know what you mean--but that's nothing to do with it. My ears, I
say, were bored, and so were dear mother's, and grandmother's before
her; and I suppose there were no more savages in our family than in
yours, Mr. Caudle? Besides,--why should little pet's ears go naked
any more than any of her sisters'? They wear earrings; you never
objected before. What?

"YOU'VE LEARNED BETTER NOW?

"Yes, that's all with your filthy politics again. You'd shake all
the world up in a dice-box, if you'd your way: not that you care a
pin about the world, only you'd like to get a better throw for
yourself,--that's all. But little pet SHALL be bored, and don't
think to prevent it.

"I suppose she's to be married some day, as well as her sisters? And
who'll look at a girl without earrings, I should like to know? If
you knew anything of the world, you'd know what a nice diamond
earring will sometimes do--when one can get it--before this. But I