It was one of Elisabeth's little tricks that her fingers were never idle when she was talking.
"What have I taught you are the two chief ends at which every woman should aim, my child ?" "To be first a Christian and then a gentlewoman," quoted Elisabeth glibly.
"And how does a true gentlewoman show her good breeding ?" "By never doing or saying anything that could make any one else feel uncomfortable," Elisabeth quoted again.
"Then do you think that to display your own knowledge by showing up another person's ignorance would make that person feel comfortable, Elisabeth ?" "No, Cousin Maria." "Knowledge is not good breeding, remember; it is a far less important matter.

A true gentlewoman may be ignorant; but a true gentlewoman will never be inconsiderate." Elisabeth hung her head.

"I see." "If you keep your thoughts fixed upon the people to whom you are talking, and never upon yourself, you will always have good manners, my child.

Endeavour to interest and not to impress them." "You mean I must talk about their things and not about mine ?" "More than that.

Make the most of any common ground between yourself and them; make the least of any difference between yourself and them; and, above all, keep strenuously out of sight any real or fancied superiority you may possess over them.