"And I do wish to do so, mamma, but...."
"You would like perhaps to propose it in such a way that her mother would refuse it?"
"Oh! no, mamma, I do assure you."
"Or else you wish it to be known that it is you who give it up to her?"
"But, mamma, is it not natural to wish Julia to know that it is I who would give her this pleasure, and not any one else?"
"And even if that were possible, do you think that this mode of affording Julia pleasure would be agreeable to her? Suppose, for instance, that you had behaved in as childish a manner as she has done, and that any one of your age had offered to yield her place to you, and thus shown how very good she was, and how much the reverse you were, would you not have felt greatly humiliated by this kindness?"
"Oh! yes, mamma, that is very true."
"Nevertheless this is the humiliation you wish to impose on Julia, as the price of the pleasure you would afford her."
"I assure you, mamma, I have no wish whatever to humble her."
"No, but you wish to prove to her, as well as to every one else, that you are better than she is; for it does not seem to be sufficient for you to know this yourself."