“Oh! and what did he say?”
“He called Ezra a dog in the manger, and I do think Ezra oughtn’t to be so harsh about Mr. Cotterell. He would like to be a better man, I know, if he had any chance, and people were kind to him.”
“Did he intimate that you could influence him towards the better way?”
“I don’t see why I can’t try to use my influence in trying to make my fellow-creatures happier and better. You and Ezra are always talking about doing good that way. Why do you want to stop me the moment I see a chance of doing a little good?”
“Because you would only do harm.”
“No, I shouldn’t. A woman has great influence over a man. He said so himself.”
“Mr. Cotterell said so?” inquired Madame.
“Yes.”
“It is a very dangerous thing for a young woman to attempt to influence men of that sort.”
“You don’t know what sort he is, nor anything about him. You are only following reports. And how can you talk about the danger of influencing men? That is just what you are always doing yourself.”