"Well!" said Mrs. Candy, as they entered the parlour, "what now? You do not look harmonious, considering. What have you had to-night?"
"An impossible sort of enthusiasm, mamma," said Clarissa, as she drew off her handsome furs.
"Impossible enthusiasm!" repeated Mrs. Candy.
"What has Mr. Richmond been talking about?" asked Mrs. Englefield.
"Why, mamma," said Letitia, "we are all to spend our lives in feeding sick people, and clothing lazy people, and running after the society of wicked people, as far as I can make out; and our money of course goes on the same plan. I advise you to look after Maria and Matilda, for they are just wise enough to think it's all right; and they will be carrying it into practice before you know where you are."
"It is not so at all!" began Maria, indignantly. "It is nothing like that, mamma. You know Mr. Richmond better."
"I think I know you better, too. Look where your study books were thrown down to-day when you came from school. Take them away, before you do anything else or say anything more."
Maria obeyed with a gloomy face.
"Do you approve of Mr. Richmond, Aunt Marianne?" Clarissa asked. "If so, I will say no more; but I was astonished to-night. I thought he was a man of sense."
"He is a man of sense," said Mrs. Englefield; "but I always thought he carried his notions rather far."