But, Anne, though I hereby retract all I said in
dispraise of Lucy, and confess that I was rude to Harriet, do not
imagine that I disavow all I said about society last night, for I
assure you that I expressed my deliberate opinion.'
'Your deliberate opinion, my dear?' said Anne, laughing.
'Yes, my deliberate opinion, my dear,' repeated Elizabeth. 'Pray why
should not I have a deliberate opinion, as well as Hannah More, or
Locke on the Human Understanding, or anyone else?'
'Because,' rejoined Anne, 'I think that if the rest of the world were
of your deliberate opinion, there would soon be a lock on the human
understanding.'
'I am sure I think there is at present,' returned Elizabeth; 'did you
see Aunt Anne last night wasted upon Mrs. Dale, obliged to listen to
the dullest stuff that ever was invented, and poor Mamma frightened
out of her wits? I should not wonder if she had dreamt of mad dogs
all night.'
'I do not defend Mrs. Dale's powers of intellect,' said Anne, 'but I
should have thought that you at least had little reason to complain.
You were very well off next to Mrs.
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