"No," said Charity. "We have more sense."
"I am not sure that it shows sense," remarked Lois, carrying off a pile of clean hot plates to the cupboard.
"What's the use of 'em?" said the elder sister.
"Cultivation of friendly feeling," suggested Mrs. Barclay.
"If folks ain't friendly already, the less they see of one another the better they'll agree," said Charity.
"Miss Charity, I am afraid you do not love your fellow-creatures," said
Mrs. Barclay, much amused.
"As well as they love me, I guess," said Charity.
"Mrs. Armadale," said Mrs. Barclay, appealing to the old lady who sat in her corner knitting as usual,—"do not these opinions require some correction?"
"Charity speaks what she thinks," said Mrs. Armadale, scratching behind her ear with the point of her needle, as she was very apt to do when called upon.
"But that is not the right way to think, is it?"