"But why do you think she will not love me?"
"I think it very likely she will love you," said Mabel, looking down upon her affectionately, "if you are good; but not till she knows you, not very much, at least. You know, we must buy people's love."
"Do you mean by making them presents?" said Amy, looking a little shocked at the idea.
"Not what you mean by presents certainly," said Mabel, smiling.
"What then?"
"Well then, first, you must give them your love, before you consider what they think of you."
"Is that a certain way of buying love?"
"It will be nearly certain," said Mabel, "to get you good will, at least, from every one, whose esteem is really valuable, for when we love, we try to do everything that is kind; we are not easily offended by little things that might annoy us, if we did not love; and then the wish to avoid giving offence, will lead us to govern our feelings, so that we may not be sullen, or out of temper, which would make us disoblige them by saying anything to wound their feelings."
"Would it do anything else?" said Amy, who always liked to hear her sister talk.
"Yes, I think it would lead us to speak the truth, for fear of encouraging them in any bad thing; for if we must not do wrong, we must not let it be done by others, if we can help it, particularly by those we love."