"And I know too little of the country,—here, at least," Philip added. "Of course the same passions and prejudices come into play everywhere. There are circles, there are jealousies, ups and downs, scandals, suppressions, and rehabilitations: it can't be otherwise."
"Are they not a little worse in the country," said Julia, "because—I may ask the question here, among us—there is less refinement of manner?"
"If the external forms are ruder," Philip resumed, "it may be an advantage, in one sense. Hypocrisy cannot be developed into an art."
Julia bit her lip, and was silent.
"But are the country people, hereabouts, so rough?" Mrs. Hopeton asked. "I confess that they don't seem so to me. What do you say, Miss Henderson?"
"Perhaps I am not an impartial witness," Lucy answered. "We care less about what is called 'manners' than the city people. We have no fixed rules for dress and behavior,—only we don't like any one to differ too much from the rest of us."
"That's it!" Mr. Hopeton cried; "the tyrannical levelling sentiment of an imperfectly developed community! Fortunately, I am beyond its reach."
Julia's eyes sparkled: she looked across the table at Joseph, with a triumphant air.
Philip suddenly raised his head. "How would you correct it? Simply by resistance?" he asked.
Mr. Hopeton laughed. "I should no doubt get myself into a hornet's-nest. No; by indifference!"