“You are putting general propositions, while all the time you have something particular and definite in your own mind; and that is not fair to my place in the conference,” said Ethel. “In fact, you think you are trying to approach me wisely, in order to persuade, I will not say _wheedle_, me into something. It’s a good thing you have the harmlessness of the dove, Harry, for you’ve got the other thing.” “Well, then, I will be as plain as ever I can be, only premising that what you call the cunning of the serpent--” “Wisdom, Harry, not cunning.” “Is only that I like to give my arguments before my proposition. But here it is--bare and defenceless, only--let me warn you--with a whole battery behind it: it is, to bring up little Theodora as a servant to Constance.” My wife laughed. “Well,” she said, “for one who says so much about not thinking of the morrow, you do look rather far forward.” “Not with any anxiety, however, if only I know that I am doing right.” “But just think: the child is about three months old.” “Well; Connie will be none the worse that she is being trained for her. I don’t say that she is to commence her duties at once.” “But Connie may be at the head of a house of her own long before that.” “The training won’t be lost to the child though. But I much fear, my love, that Connie will never be herself again. There is no sign of it. And Turner does not give much hope.” “O Harry, Harry, don’t say so! I can’t bear it. To think of the darling child lying like that all her life!” “It is sad, indeed; but no such awful misfortune surely, Ethel. Haven’t you seen, as well as I, that the growth of that child’s nature since her accident has been marvellous? Ten times rather would I have her lying there such as she is, than have her well and strong and silly, with her bonnets inside instead of outside her head.” “Yes, but she needn’t have been like that. Wynnie never will.” “Well, but God does all things not only well, but best, absolutely best. But just think what it would be in any circumstances to have a maid that had begun to wait upon her from the first days that she was able to toddle after something to fetch it for her.” “Won’t it be like making a slave of her?” “Won’t it be like giving her a divine freedom from the first? The lack of service is the ruin of humanity.” “But we can’t train her then like one of our own.” “Why not? Could we not give her all the love and all the teaching?” “Because it would not be fair to give her the education of a lady, and then make a servant of her.”