“It is ugly,” I said. “I dislike it, because it is not beautiful. How can any one live a beautiful, harmonious life who begins by being out of harmony in his relation with the person whom he loves? For that is the truth. Children often love dearly the parent with whom they are always disagreeing. How shall we get understanding and unity and sympathy in life if we cannot get it with those nearest us, those we love?”
“Of course,” said Henry, “our idea of life, of complete sympathy, is against all that kind of thing.”
“It is much easier,” said Marian, “to know what is right than to do it.”
We all agreed.
“But why,” I said, “should we suffer regrets, and do ugly things, when there must be some way to stop it?”
“What way?” asked Marian.
“Well, first, what is our feeling toward older people?”
“Pity,” said Virginia.
“How?” we all asked rather indignantly.
“Well,” she went on, “you get up for an old woman in the car, because you are sorry for her, so that she shouldn’t flop all over your shins.”