"He's very good!" said Madge.
"Not in grandmother's way," said Lois softly.
"Mother," said Mrs. Marx, "you can't have everybody cut out on your pattern."
Mrs. Armadale made no answer.
"And there ain't enough o' your pattern to keep one from bein' lonesome, if we're to have nothin' to do with the rest."
"Better so," said the old lady. "I don't want no company for my chil'en that won't help 'em on the road to heaven. They'll have company enough when they get there."
"And how are you goin' to be the salt o' the earth, then, if you won't touch nothin'?"
"How, if the salt loses its saltness, daughter?"
"Well, mother, it always puzzles me, that there's so much to be said on both sides of things! I'll go home and think about it. Then he ain't one o' your Appledore friends, Lois?"
"Not one of my friends at all, aunt Anne."