"But, Maria!——"
"Well, what, 'Maria'?"
"You promised, Maria, that you would do all you could for temperance work."
"What then? I could not do anything for temperance there, child. As Mrs. Laval said."
"You needn't have drunk the wine."
"Why shouldn't I? Mrs. Laval gave it to me; I couldn't be rude."
"But that is not keeping your promise."
"I made no promise about it. I could do nothing in the world for temperance there, Tilly. What would Mrs. Laval care for anything I should say?"
"But, Maria!" said her little sister, looking puzzled and troubled at once—"you cannot drink wine in one place, and try to hinder people from drinking it in another place."
"Why can't I? It all depends on the place, Tilly, and the people."