"I don't care!" said Maria, desperately. "People are as they are brought up. My mother don't care for such fidgety notions. I speak to please her, and that is enough."
"No, Maria, it is not enough," resumed Mrs. Candy. "Your mother loves you, and so she is willing to overlook little things in you that she can overlook because you are her child; but when you are grown up, you would wish to be liked by other nice people, wouldn't you? people of education, and taste, and elegant habits; and they do not like to have anything to do with people who 'poke their noses' into things, or who say that they do."
"I'll keep in the kitchen then," said Maria, hastily.
The breakfast may be said to have ended here; for though a few more mouthfuls were eaten, no more words were said. Mrs. Candy and her daughter left the room and went up-stairs. Maria and Matilda began the work of clearing the table.
"Ain't she too much!" Maria exclaimed.
"But, Maria," said her little sister, "I wish you wouldn't say such things."
"If I am going to be a kitchen maid," said Maria, "I may as well talk kitchen maid."
"Oh, I don't think so, Maria!"
"I don't care!" said Maria. "I would rather vex aunt Candy than not; and she was vexed this morning. She kept it in pretty well; but she was vexed."
"But, Maria, that isn't right, is it?"