"Nonsense," said the Marchioness, laughing.
"I really should. It would be so ridiculous."
"Quite otherwise, I think, if you undertook it in the right spirit."
"But I never could. It is not in me. They would all begin to laugh—"
"They must be under very poor control, then," said Vittoria.
"Besides, it would be so uncalled for—it would take their thoughts off their proper work."
"What is their proper work?"
"To do vast quantities of embroidery and fine needlework."
"Well, I think your proper work is to care for their souls."