"That's because you have very few dates to get up," said Charles; "but common writing is a memoria technica."
"That's beyond Caroline," said Mary.
"What are words but artificial signs for ideas?" said Charles; "they are more musical, but as arbitrary. There is no more reason why the sound 'hat' should mean the particular thing so called, which we put on our heads, than why 'abul-distof' should stand for 1520."
"Oh, my dear child," said Mrs. Reding, "how you run on! Don't be paradoxical."
"My dear mother," said Charles, coming round to the fire, "I don't want to be paradoxical; it's only a generalization."
"Keep it, then, for the schools, my dear; I dare say it will do you good there," continued Mrs. Reding, while she continued her hemming; "poor Caroline will be as much put to it in logic as in history."
"I am in a dilemma," said Charles, as he seated himself on a little stool at his mother's feet; "for Carry calls me stupid if I am silent, and you call me paradoxical if I speak."
"Good sense," said his mother, "is the golden mean."
"And what is common sense?" said Charles.
"The silver mean," said Eliza.