'
'It is to please our father and mother,' said Anne.
'Yes, and that is the reason it must be done,' said Elizabeth; 'it is
the way of the world, and cannot be helped.'
'Rather say it is the trial which has been ordained for us,' said
Anne.
'Well,' said Elizabeth, smiling, 'I know all the time that you have
the best of the argument. It would not be so if it was not good for
us.'
'And as it is,' said Anne, 'I believe that there is more enjoyment in
the present order of things, than there would be in any arrangement
we could devise.'
'Oh! doubtless,' said Elizabeth, 'just as the corn ripens better with
all the disasters that seem to befall it, than it would if we had the
command of the clouds.'
'Of course,' said Anne, 'you really are a much more reasonable
creature than you pretend to be, Lizzie.'
'Am I?' said Elizabeth. 'Well, I will just tell you my great horror,
and I suppose you will laugh at me. I can endure gossip for old
people who cannot employ themselves, and must talk, and have nothing
to talk of but their neighbours; but only think of those wretched
faineants who go chattering on, wasting their own time and other
people's, doing no good on the face of the earth, and a great deal of
harm.
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