“Flat, do you hear that?” says Captain Bridgeman.
“What?” replies Flat.
“That idleness is the root of all evil; what an evil-disposed person you must be.”
“I was thinking,” replied Flat.
“I suspect it’s only lately you’ve taken to that. Who or what were you thinking about?”
“Well, I believe I was thinking how long it would be before dinner was ready.”
“That’s very rude, Mr Flat; you might have said that you were thinking about me,” replied my aunt.
“Well, so I was at first, and then I began to think of dinner-time.”
“Don’t be offended, Miss Amelia; Flat pays you a great compliment in dividing his attentions; but I really wish to know why ladies will spoil muslin in such a predetermined manner. Will you explain that, Mrs Keene?”
“Yes, Captain Bridgeman: a piece of work is very valuable to a woman, especially when she finds herself in company with gentlemen like you. It saves her from looking down, or looking at you, when you are talking nonsense; it prevents your reading in her eyes what is passing in her mind, or discovering what effect your words may have upon her; it saves much awkwardness, and very often a blush; sometimes a woman hardly knows which way to look; sometimes she may look any way but the right. Now a bit of muslin with a needle is a remedy for all that, for she can look down at her work, and not look up till she thinks it advisable.”