"I never would allow my children to interrupt," said one.
"They all do it, except Belle's children."
"Then all children are disagreeable—and very disagreeable."
"Come, Belle, speak up. How have you contrived it all?"
"There has not been much contrivance about it. There were certain things I made up my mind to have, and I've had them. There were certain other things I wanted to have, but have not, thus far, gained. In other words, I do not consider our household life perfect. We every one of us, father, mother, and children, have our faults and foibles."
"I should hope so," said Laura. "You would be fearfully uninteresting if you never said or did anything but what was prim and proper."
"Oh, as to that, we are not prim, as you very well know."
"What, not when you go on straw-rides? Dear me, I have been black-and-blue ever since you and his Reverence inveigled me into going blackberrying in that style. But come, now; what have you done to your children?"
"I don't know," said Belle, trying to think. "Perhaps they were born with good manners. I never fuss over them; they seem to take to things naturally."