"Why, aunt, he would make missionaries and colporteurs and sisters of charity of us all. Sisters of charity are a magnificent institution, of course; but what would become of the world if we were all sisters of charity? And the idea! that everybody is to spend his whole time and all his means in looking up vagrants and nursing fever cases! I never heard anything like it in my life. That, and doing the work of travelling Methodists!"
"I wonder what the ministry is good for," said Mrs. Candy, "if everybody is to do the same work."
"I do not understand it," said Mrs. Englefield. "I was not brought up to these extreme theories myself; and I do not intend that my children shall be."
"But, mamma," said Maria, re-entering, "Mr. Richmond does not go into extreme theories."
"Did you eat an apple after dinner?" said her mother.
"Yes, ma'am."
"You ate it up here, instead of in the dining-room?"
"Why, mamma, you know we often——"
"Answer me. You ate it up here?"
"Yes."