"Papa takes merely the conventional view," Elizabeth went on, "and the conventional view is taken without thought."
"But--surely--" Mrs. Ward stammered, in the impotence of one who, easily convinced without reasons, has no reasons at command--"surely--you heard what Mr. Modderwell and Mr. Eades said."
"Their view is conventional," said Elizabeth, "and proper." She gave a little curl of her lip as she spoke this last word.
"Well, I'm sure, dear, that we all wish to be proper, and Mr. Modderwell and Mr. Eades--"
"Oh! Don't quote those two men to me! Two such prigs, such Pharisees, I never saw!"
Mrs. Ward looked at her daughter in a new horror. "Why, Elizabeth! I'm surprised--I thought that Mr. Eades especially--"
"Well, don't you think Mr. Eades especially at all! He's not especially; he thinks he is, no doubt, and so does everybody else, but they have no right to, and hereafter Mr. Eades can't come here--that's all!" Her eyes were flashing.
Mrs. Ward ventured no further just then, but presently resumed:
"Think what people would say!"
"Oh, mother! Please don't use that argument. I have often told you that I don't care at all what people say."