Poor Eleanor! "See him!" said the archdeacon glaring at her.

"And why am I to be called on to lower myself in the world's esteem and my own by coming in contact with such a man as that?
I have hitherto lived among gentlemen, and do not mean to be dragged into other company by anybody." Poor Mr.Harding well knew what the archdeacon meant, but Eleanor was as innocent as her own baby.

She could not understand how the archdeacon could consider himself to be dragged into bad company by condescending to speak to Mr.Slope for a few minutes when the interests of her father might be served by his doing so.
"I was talking for a full hour yesterday to Mr.Slope," said she with some little assumption of dignity, "and I did not find myself lowered by it." "Perhaps not," said he.

"But if you'll be good enough to allow me, I shall judge for myself in such matters.

And I tell you what, Eleanor; it will be much better for you if you will allow yourself to be guided also by the advice of those who are your friends.