"It seems to me you are a little too sure of valuing it," said
Mr. Haye, — "for a young lady who has not that privilege."
Elizabeth's cheeks burned on the instant, but her eye was steady, and it looked full on her father while she asked him,
"Why, sir?"
"It is not worth while for you to like other people faster than they like you?"
"Why not?" — said Elizabeth, her cheek and eye both deepening in their fire, but her look as steady and full, — "Why not? — if it should happen that I am less likeable than they?"
"Pshaw!" said Mr. Haye.
"If I were to gauge the respect and esteem I give others, by the respect and esteem they might be able to give me, — I should cut off maybe the best pleasures of my life."
"Are respect and esteem the best pleasures of your life?" said
Rose satirically.
"I have never known any superior to them," said Elizabeth. But she brought, as she spoke, her eye of fire to bear upon her cousin, who gave way before it and was mum.
"And what may respect and esteem lead to?" said Mr. Haye.