"Not more so than it deserves," replied Mrs. Primrose; "it is too coarse to be permitted for a moment."
"And yet the moral tone seems good enough."
"I do not blame the morality so much as the bad taste. It is full of slang dialogue, and was certainly written by a very unrefined person."
"It makes its characters speak as such people speak in real life."
"It is not merely that," said Mrs. Primrose, slightly pursing her mouth; "it contains, besides, expressions absolutely reprehensible."
"One does not admire its good taste; but a little blunt Saxon never did much harm."
"No daughter of mine shall read it," said Mrs. Primrose, with gravity.
"I imagine that if literature is to reflect human life truly, it can hardly be limited to the language of the drawing room."
"Then it should be banished from the drawing room," said Mrs. Primrose, with severity.
Here several visitors appeared, and Morton presently took leave.