“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.  Let us have out the traits of Eliza’s character separately, and examine the scope in detail.”

“To begin with, she has wonderful foresight; her power to plan the work of the house so as to get it done as easily as possible often surprises me.  Now, of what use is this faculty in the kingdom of my step-mother, who always acts on the last impulse, and upsets every one’s plans without even observing them?  She has great executive ability, too; but what use is it when, as soon as she gets interested in the accomplishment of something, my mother cries, ’Come, Eliza, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy; go and romp with the children!’ Then, too, she has plenty of resource; but of what use is that, when the thing she sees to be best in an emergency is seldom the thing that is done?  The hotel-keeper is more observing than you; he has noticed that Eliza is no ordinary manager, and offered her high wages.”

“You know, of course, what you are talking about,” said Trenholme, feelingly, for he had no doubt that her sympathy with Eliza had arisen out of the pains of her own experience; “but in your house there is surely boundless room for humble, loving service; and how much better this girl would be if she could set aside her cleverness to perform such service.”  He did not add, “as you have done,” but there was that in his voice which implied it.  He went on:  “I do not yet allow that you have disproved my statement, for I said that where she was she had scope for her highest faculties.”