Florence said: “What I like most of all is to be liked. I often envy people their lovableness.”
“Naturally,” said I, “that is what we all like most, isn’t it?
“And the truly good person, in our sense of good, is also the lovable, beloved person.”
Marian and Virginia exchanged glances. They were thinking again of that girl in Sunday-school, who, they said, was thoroughly good, but not at all lovable.
“The good person,” I said, “is also the intelligent, sympathetic person. Sympathy, understanding love, is the great virtue. I have made a list of seven virtues. Would you like to hear them? First, Love.”
That, they said, included all the others.
Yes, I answered, it was the chief. Second, Courage. Courage, they said, to do as we believed. Third, Trustworthiness. They all agreed. Fourth, love of knowledge. Fifth, love of beauty. Sixth, insight. Seventh, a sense of humor!
During this time Virginia and Marian were fitting each virtue to that girl, and found her lacking only in the latter ones, but no more lovable or interesting than before.
“Ruth,” I said.
“Yes.”