But grandma was not to be intimidated, and her best argument was Ethel herself.
“In America,” said grandma, “we haven’t the same idea of education. It’s the young girl’s Paradise!”
“But I am very happy here,” Yvonne said, smiling.
“Ignorance is bliss,” grandma thought to herself.
“With us,” Ethel said aloud, “a young girl like Yvonne, who has a taste for painting, would go to Paris to study.”
“Ah! Seigneur! how could you imagine my going to live in Paris at my age!” exclaimed Yvonne’s mother.
“But you would remain here,” grandma said. “Your daughter would go alone.”
“Est-il possible!” grand’mère exclaimed.
“It is so pleasant,” grandma went on, “to have the whole world before you; it is so exciting to be in the strife and to feel one’s self alive at twenty. It is done every day with us and we are none the worse for it. On the contrary—”
“That I can see,” grand’mère admitted, looking at Ethel. Grand’mère found her charming, and could not understand how a young girl brought up with such liberty should be so nice.