“It’s a barbarous, savage custom?
“Oh, Mr. Caudle! the sooner you go away from the world, and live in a cave, the better. You’re getting not fit for Christian society. What next? My ears were bored and - What?
“So are yours?
“I know what you mean - but that’s nothing to do with it. My ears, I say, were bored, and so were dear mother’s, and grandmother’s before her; and I suppose there were no more savages in our family than in yours, Mr. Caudle? Besides, - why should little pet’s ears go naked any more than any of her sisters’? They wear earrings; you never objected before. What?
“You’ve learned better now?
“Yes, that’s all with your filthy politics again. You’d shake all the world up in a dice-box, if you’d your way: not that you care a pin about the world, only you’d like to get a better throw for yourself, - that’s all. But little pet shall be bored, and don’t think to prevent it.
“I suppose she’s to be married some day, as well as her sisters? And who’ll look at a girl without earrings, I should like to know? If you knew anything of the world, you’d know what a nice diamond earring will sometimes do - when one can get it - before this. But I know why you can’t abide earrings now: Miss Prettyman doesn’t wear ’em; she would - I’ve no doubt - if she could only get ’em. Yes, it’s Miss Prettyman who -
“There, Caudle, now be quiet, and I’ll say no more about pet’s ears at present. We’ll talk when you’re reasonable. I don’t want to put you out of temper, goodness knows! And so, love, about the cottage? What?
“’Twill be so far from business?
“But it needn’t be far, dearest. Quite a nice distance; so that on your late nights you may always be at home, have your supper, get to bed, and all by eleven. Eh, - sweet one?”