"Sometimes it's mighty hard to tell the difference between an angel and a damn fool," said Lightener. "I suppose you want me to mix into it. Well, I won't."
"You haven't been asked," said Hilda. "I'm doing the mixing for this family. I just came to tell you I am going to stay all night with Ruth—and to warn you not to mix in. You'd do it with a sledge hammer. I don't suppose it's any use telling you to keep your hands off—for you won't. But I wish you would."
"You'll get your wish," he said.
"I won't," she answered.
"Poor Bonbright," Mrs. Lightener said, "it does seem as if about every misfortune had happened to him that can happen…. And he can't go to his mother for sympathy."
"He isn't the kind to go to anybody for sympathy," said Lightener.
"Then don't you go to him with any," said Hilda.
"I told you I wasn't going to have anything to do with it."
"I haven't any patience with that girl," said Mrs. Lightener. "Such notions! Wherever did she get them?… It's all a result of this Votes for Women and clubs studying sociology and that. When I was a girl—"
"You wore hoop skirts, mammy," said Hilda, "and if you weren't careful when you sat down folks saw too much stocking…. Don't go blaming Ruth too much. She thought she was doing something tremendous."