I thought you made somewhat of a companion of her." "I do; and that is why, after hearing what she has to say about it, I think she has done right.

She has abilities, and this is the only opening in sight in which she can exercise them." "I should think"-- sternly--"that these abilities were better unexercised." "That is probably because you haven't the least idea what it is to have energies and faculties for which you have no scope"-- this archly.
"But I should think the risk of learning pert manners--" "That is the way men always argue about women.

I tell you there is no such risk for an energetic, clever girl as to place her where the rust of unexercised faculties will eat into her soul.

It is just because so many girls have to undergo this risk, and cannot do it safely, that the world is so full of women that are captious or morbid or silly.

Boys treated in the same way would turn out as badly." "But there is scope for all the highest faculties of a woman's nature in such a household as yours," cried he.
"Since you say so"-- politely--"I am bound to believe it." "No, but really--do you mean to say you don't think so ?" "You have just expressed yourself so positively that I am curious to know how you came by your knowledge, first, as to Eliza's faculties, and secondly, as to the scope for them in our house." "It is unkind of you to laugh at me when I am only a humble enquirer after truth." "Having expressed yourself thus modestly--" "Nay, but I only said what I would have said about any girl in any such family." "And you only said it with that simplicity of certainty which every man would have felt on the same subject." "I cry a truce; I plead for mercy.