"We all know him, but that's no reason you should recognize him out of the store."
"I don't see why—" began Emmie.
"I've told you before, you do not know such persons except in their capacity of salesmen."
"He bowed to me, grandma."
"Impertinence! Teach him a lesson next time. Don't notice him."
Mrs. Gano's point of view not only seemed to Val quite natural, but this very same conversation, with some immaterial variation, had taken place too often to merit notice. Cousin Ethan, however, was looking from one to the other in frank amazement.
"'Tisn't as if Peter Hall was a servant," said Emmie, appealingly. "I've given up bowing to the Otways' coachman."
"Isn't all this very undemocratic?" Ethan asked.
"It's a most essential consideration in a democracy."
"But do you realize that it shows a degree of class prejudice that doesn't exist in the older, the monarchical countries?"