He at least would not represent a class of neighbors who have made themselves systematically uncivil and disagreeable to us." "I am afraid, Josephine, we have not tried to make ourselves particularly agreeable to THEM," said the major.
"If that can only be done by admitting their equality, I prefer they should remain uncivil.

Only let it be understood, major, that if you choose to take this Tom-the-ploughboy to mend your well, you will at least keep him there while he is on the property." With what retort the major would have kept up this conjugal discussion, already beginning to be awkward to the discreet visitor, is not known, as it was suddenly stopped by a bullet from the rosebud lips of the ingenuous Adele.
"Why, he's very handsome when his face is clean, and his hands are small and not at all hard.

And he doesn't talk the least bit queer or common." There was a dead silence.

"And pray where did YOU see him, and what do you know about his hands ?" asked Mrs.Randolph, in her most desiccated voice.

"Or has the major already presented you to him?
I shouldn't be surprised." "No, but"-- hesitated the young girl, with a certain mouse-like audacity,--"when you sent me to look after Miss Mallory, I came up to him just after he had spoken to her, and he stopped to ask me how we all were, and if Miss Mallory was really frightened by the earthquake, and he shook hands for good afternoon--that's all." "And who taught you to converse with common strangers and shake hands with them ?" continued Mrs.Randolph, with narrowing lips.
"Nobody, mamma; but I thought if Miss Mallory, who is a young lady, could speak to him, so could I, who am not out yet." "We won't discuss this any further at present," said Mrs.Randolph, stiffly, as the major smiled grimly at Rose.