"Why then did you not complain?"
"It was not necessary."
"And is it necessary to-day?"
"Must one never say a word then about what is unpleasant?" replied Adela in a very impatient tone.
"I would ask you that question, my dear; you best know the reasons which induced you to refrain from murmuring whilst the princess was present."
After some reflection, Adela could find nothing better to say than that her mother had enjoined her to behave well before strangers. Madame de Vaucourt observed that she had enjoined her to behave well at all times. "But," she added, "since you think you ought to refrain from complaints in order to maintain a proper appearance before strangers, why did you, when you cut yourself the other day, whilst the princess was present, say that you were hurt, and hold your finger in water, and then keep it wrapped up in a handkerchief for an hour?"
"But, mamma, it pained me very much."
"You believe then that one may complain before strangers of things which give real pain? Suppose now that you had received a letter from the school, saying that your brother was ill, would you not have thought it allowable to show your grief on such an occasion before the princess?"
"Yes, indeed, mamma," replied Adela quickly.
"You see then that when we suffer real evils we may complain of them before strangers, it is only when things are too trifling to deserve notice, that it is ridiculous to make complaints in their presence, and since they do not deserve notice, it is just as ridiculous to complain of them when strangers are not present."