I glanced at her to see if she was in earnest. Evidently she was. I hesitated, then said, cautiously:
‘But pardon me. They had a prejudice against soap? Had?’—with falling inflection.
‘Yes—but that was only at first; nobody would eat it.’
‘Oh—I understand. I didn’t get your idea before.’
She resumed:
‘It was just a prejudice. The first time soap came here from the foreigners, nobody liked it; but as soon as it got to be fashionable, everybody liked it, and now everybody has it that can afford it. Are you fond of it?’
‘Yes, indeed; I should die if I couldn’t have it—especially here. Do you like it?’
‘I just adore it! Do you like candles?’
‘I regard them as an absolute necessity. Are you fond of them?’
Her eyes fairly danced, and she exclaimed: