"Why, Mother," answered Fred, getting over his bashfulness, now that the secret was out, "it was all about treating those who were beneath us with kindness."
"Well done!" exclaimed his Mother. "Let us hear what you had to say upon the subject."
"I said it was a shame to abuse those who were poorer than we were; that in God's eyes all were equal. I could not bear to hear Jessie say that she had her own servant at home, and when this servant did any thing to displease her she would pinch and slap her. I told her she was a downright wicked girl."
"Oh, shocking! shocking!" said Mrs. Stanley. "And my sweet little Kate, did you too stand up for kindness to servants?"
"I did all I could, dear Mother," she replied, "but Fred did the most."
"Well, tell me, what else did you say."
"I told her," said Fred, hesitating a little, "that here in our own country, we said 'if you please' and 'thank you,' when a servant did any thing for us, and that she had better go back to Scotland, and not stay another day in a place where she was deprived of the pleasure of pinching people."
"Oh, Frederick! Frederick! how could a boy of your politeness be so rude to a young lady? That was a great mistake."
Frederick looked mortified, and Kate hung her head. "But what happened after that?" asked Mrs. Stanley.
"Oh, she was so angry that she went away, and we have not seen her since. I am very sorry; but it can't be helped now."