"Amen!" said Belle solemnly.
The daily friction with her protégée was becoming too much for the good-natured patience even of my better half. Acting upon generous impulses is all very fine, but they need to be backed up by a large amount of endurance and tolerance if the results are to be successfully dealt with.
From my vantage-ground on the nursery sofa, behind my screen of newspaper, I frequently hear more than is suspected by the family.
"Mary, you're not going to the rink to-night!" in Belle's most imploring tone.
"Yes, mawm, I am. Lend me your wrench, Watty."
"Mary, I positively forbid you to go to the rink!"
"Well, I do think that's just too mean for anything. Every girl in town goes."
"Every girl in town doesn't skate with barber, or bandsman, or anybody who comes along, as you do."
"Watty's been telling!"
"Watty hasn't been telling!" broke in our eldest son in indignant protest, which he further emphasized by going out and banging the door after him.