While this matter was under consideration, Mr. Byerley entered and seated himself by Mrs. Fletcher. The girls presently withdrew.
“Can you guess what we were talking of when you came?” said Mrs. Fletcher.
“Your countenance tells me,” replied Mr. Byerley, nodding towards the balcony. “There is much to be said on that subject, my dear madam; and I do assure you that the best kindness you can show us all, is to tell me truly and exactly what impression my poor motherless girls have made upon you.”
“I will do so with the greatest pleasure,” replied Mrs. Fletcher, smiling; “for the impression is very much like what I know you wish it to be.” And while she praised, the father listened with pleased attention.
“I have tried to make them good,” he said, when there was a pause: “they are affectionate, and they are simple. There is little in their conduct to myself which I wish otherwise; and no sisters were ever more attached to one another than they. But there is much which wants correction; and more evil in prospect, I am afraid.”
“Their personal habits want correction, I grant, without dispute,” replied Mrs. Fletcher; “and I have a plan to propose for that purpose: but what further evil is in prospect I do not see.”
“An evil of much greater magnitude than their sad external habits, which, however, are grievous enough,” replied their father. “You know my hatred of all schools, and of the usual method of female education.”
“Oh! yes,” said Mrs. Fletcher, smiling: “your prejudices on that subject are completely identified with yourself.”
“The reason of that hatred, which may have some prejudice mixed up with it, is, that almost all the women whom I have known to have much feeling, have been victims to feeling. It seems to me, that through some grand error in education, women become either unfeeling or sentimental—given either to levity or romance.
“I cannot agree with you at all,” said Mrs. Fletcher; “and I am very sure you have been unfortunate in your experience of female society; or that one beautiful example of sobriety and depth of feeling united, has made you imagine that the method of education adopted in that particular case, must be the only good one.”