It keeps the men from grumbling when nothing else will; except, of course, the grace of God," added Mrs.Bateson piously, "though even that don't always seem to have much effect, when things go wrong with their dinners." "That's because they haven't enough of it; they haven't much grace in their hearts, as a rule, haven't men, even the best of them; and the best of them don't often come my way.

But as for Miss Elisabeth, she isn't a regular Farringdon, as you may say--not the real daughter of the works; and so she shouldn't take too much upon herself, expecting dukes and ironmasters and the like to come begging to her on their bended knees.

She is only Miss Farringdon's adopted daughter, at best; and I don't hold with adopted children, I don't; I think it is better and more natural to be born of your own parents, like most folk are." "So do I," agreed Mrs.Bateson; "I'd never have adopted a child myself.
I should always have been expecting to see its parents' faults coming out in it--so different from the peace you have with your own flesh and blood." Mrs.Hankey groaned.

"Your own flesh and blood may take after their father; you never can tell." "So they may, Mrs.Hankey--so they may; but, as the Scripture says, it is our duty to whip the old man out of them." "Just so.

And that's another thing against adopted children--you'd hesitate about punishing them enough; I don't fancy as you'd ever feel the same pleasure in whipping 'em as you do in whipping your own.