“It is a matter they settle among themselves,” answered lady Ann, confused between her desire to appear moral, and to gain her lie credit.
“I think I shall not call myself a lady!” said Barbara, after a moment's silence. “I prefer being a woman! I wonder whether in heaven they say a woman or a lady!”
“I suppose they are all sorts there as well as here,” answered lady Ann.
“How will the ladies do without gentlemen?” suggested Barbara.
“Why without gentlemen? There will be as many surely of the one sex as of the other!”
“No,” said Barbara, “that cannot be! Gentlemen tell lies, and I am sure no lie is told in heaven!”
“All gentlemen do not tell lies!” returned lady Ann, herself at the moment full of lying.
“But all gentlemen may lie!” persisted Barbara, “so there can be no gentlemen in heaven.”
“I am sorry I had to mention the thing,” returned lady Ann, “but I was afraid your sweet romantic nature might cherish an interest where was nothing on which to ground it. Of course I know whence the report you allude to comes! Any man, bookbinder or blacksmith, may put in a claim. He will find plenty to back him. They will very likely get up a bubble-company, for speculation on his chance! His own class will be sure to take his part! Now that those that ought to know better have taught them to combine, the lower orders stick at nothing to annoy their superiors! But, thank heaven, the estate is not entailed!”
“If you imagine Mr. Tuke told me he was heir to Mortgrange, lady Ann, you are mistaken. He does not know himself that he is even supposed to be.”