"I don't think that excuse will serve," Miss Con said quietly. "It is one person's 'way' to shirk trouble; and another person's 'way' to be idle or untruthful; and another person's 'way' to be a victim to weak fancies. But—"
Miss Con stopped, and Thyrza coloured up, for she was finding fault only the day before, with those very faults in Maggie and Nona and Elfie.
"Of course if one's 'way' is a wrong way, one ought to fight it, Miss Con. Only I can't see that one's manner signifies," Thyrza said. "People in general might like me better, if I put on a softer manner. But if I don't care about being liked except by the few whom I like—?"
"It is no mere question of being liked," Miss Con said. "That would be a base motive. It is a question of right and wrong,—of doing one's duty,—of pleasing God,—of being Christ-like."
Thyrza exclaimed "Oh!"
But Miss Con went on:
"It is a question of giving pain or pleasure; of losing or gaining influence; of helping or repelling others. Of course there are instances in which one has to be cold judicially, to check undue forwardness; and I am not at all advising 'gush' or even universal cordiality. I only advise the cultivation of courtesy, kindness, and gentleness,—not to some only, but to all."
"But one must be natural; one must be true," cried Thyrza. "I can't put on what I don't feel."
"No. There you strike at the root of the matter," Miss Con said seriously.
"But I should not like to be commonplace," Thyrza broke out.