"Do missionaries ever quarrel?" asked Lizzy.
"Missionaries, my dear, are human beings. I do not think they quarrel more than other people—perhaps not quite so much. But you can see that in such a small, isolated community, depending on each other for society, and thrown very much together, the greatest prudence and caution are necessary. You know how, when a large family connexion live near each other, one single person who is imprudent or malicious in speech may set the whole by the ears."
Lizzy sighed.
"What called out that sigh?" asked Mrs. Campbell, smiling.
"I was thinking that I should never do for a missionary," said Lizzy.
"I am sure I should not, if one must weigh and measure every word one says," said Marion, rather indignantly. "I can't bear such cold, calculating people; I think they are detestable. Let people follow their impulses, I say."
"And suppose the impulse of somebody is to tell a scandalous story about you or utterly to misrepresent something you have said or done?" said Christian. "What then?"
Marion was saved the trouble of a reply by a sudden interruption. Just as Mrs. Campbell finished speaking, Therese Beaubien was seen coming across the field as if her feet had wings.
"What in the world ails Therese?" said Lizzy. "See how she is running!"
"We shall soon know, for she is coming here," said Mrs. Campbell, going to the door just as Therese jumped over the garden wall, and came running up the path to the house. At the same moment Alick McGregor came round the corner and nearly caught Therese in his arms.