Let me
see: I told her she neglected all the practical duties that stared
her directly in the face, and squandered herself on useless fads and
vagaries--that's about all. No-o, now that I come to think of it, I
did say that the children would have been missed and found last
night, if she had had a drop of mother's blood in her veins.'
'That's terse and strong--and tactful,' said Mary; 'anything more?'
'No, I don't think so. Oh yes! now that I reflect, I said I didn't
believe she was a woman at all. That seemed to enrage her beyond
anything, somehow; and when I explained it, and tried to modify it by
saying I meant that she had never borne or loved or brooded anything
in her life but her nasty little clubs, she was white with anger, and
told me I was too low in the scale of being to understand her. Good
gracious! I wish she understood herself half as well as I understand
her!'
Mary gave a hysterical laugh. 'I can't pretend you didn't speak the
truth, Rhoda, but I am sadly afraid it was ill advised to wound Mrs.
Grubb's vanity. Do you feel a good deal better?'
'No,' confessed Rhoda penitently. 'I did for fifteen minutes,--yes,
nearly half an hour; but now I feel worse than ever.'
'That is one of the commonest symptoms of freeing one's mind,'
observed Mary quietly.
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