“Oh, as to that,” replied Louisa, tossing her head with an air of contempt and affected indifference, “she’s got into a pet about something; dear knows what, for I don’t.”

“I am really sorry to hear you say so,” remarked Mrs. Appleton.  “Maria is a warm-hearted girl, and a sincere friend.  Why do you not go to her, and inquire the cause of this change in her manner?”

“Me!  No, indeed.  I never humour any one who gets into a pet and goes pouting about in that manner.”

“But is it right for you to act so?  A word of inquiry or explanation might restore all in a moment.”

“Right or wrong, I never did and never will humour the whims of such kind of people.  No, no.  Let her pout it out!  That’s the way to cure such people.”

“I don’t think so, Louisa.  She is unhappy from some real or imaginary cause.  That cause it is no doubt in your power to remove.”

“But she has no right to imagine causes of offence; and I don’t choose to have people act as she is now acting towards me from mere imaginary causes.  No; let her pout it out, I say.  It will teach her a good lesson.”

Louisa spoke with indignant warmth.

“Were you never mistaken?” asked Mrs. Appleton, in a grave tone.

“Of course, I’ve been mistaken many a time.”

“Very well.  Have you never been mistaken in reference to another’s action towards you?”

“I presume so.”

“And have not such mistakes sometimes given you pain?”

“I cannot recall any instances just at this moment, but I have no doubt they have.”

“Very well.  Just imagine yourself in Maria’s position; would you not think it kind in any one to step forward and disabuse you of an error that was stealing away your peace of mind?”

“Yes; but, Mrs. Appleton, I don’t know anything about the cause of Maria’s strange conduct.  She may see that in my character or disposition to which she is altogether uncongenial, and may have made up her mind not to keep my company any longer.  Or she may feel herself, all at once, above me.  And I’m not the one, I can tell you, to cringe to any living mortal.  I am as good as she is, or any one else!”

“Gently, gently, Louisa!  Don’t fall into the very fault you condemn in Maria; that of imagining a sentiment to be entertained by another which she does not hold, and then growing indignant over the idea and at the person supposed to hold it.”

“I can’t see clearly the force of what you say, Mrs. Appleton; and therefore I must come back to what I remarked a little while ago:  She must pout it out.”