“There’s lots more of those places in Canada than here,” said she. “They’re not all that they should be, either. Think of sending young girls there!”
“Why not?” he asked.
She now regretted her outburst and was annoyed at his question. She answered primly:
“Why, I wouldn’t tell you, of course.”
He laughed, unconcerned and superior.
“Pshaw, I know what you mean. I’ve heard those stories too—about nuns being in love with priests. But I don’t believe them.”
“Oh, you don’t?” inquired Ellen sarcastically. It was not that she did not think it admirable of him to dislike believing evil of people, but one need not go so far as to defend Catholics....
“No,” he said. “You know why?”
“Well, why, smarty?”
“Because even people outside of such places, convents and the like, even people who are grown up and free to do as they please—well, they never do anything they want to do. I mean things that just pop into their heads to do.”