"You will be surprised to hear,—a fashion plate! And that is not all. By her own confession, she was studying it in order to conform to the prevailing style of dress. Hadn't you a better opinion of her?"
"I certainly had," was aunt Abigail's half smiling, half grave reply.
"Why, what harm is there in following the fashions, aunt?" Mary asked.
"A great deal, my dear. It is following after the vanities of this life. The apostle tells us not to be conformed to this world."
"I know he does; but what has that to do with the fashions? He doesn't say that you shall not wear fashionable garments; at least I never saw the passage."
"But that is clearly what he means, Mary."
"I doubt it. Let us hear what he further says; perhaps that will guide us to a truer meaning?"
"He says: 'But be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds.' That elucidates and gives force to what goes before."
"So I think, clearly upsetting your position. The apostle evidently has reference to a deeper work than mere external non-conformity in regard to the cut of the coat, or the fashion of the dress. Be ye not conformed to this world in its selfish, principles and maxims—be ye not as the world, lovers of self more than lovers of God—but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds. That is the way I understand him."
"Then you understand him wrong, Mary," uncle Absalom spoke up. "If he had meant that, he would have said it in plain terms."