Extracts from Mrs. Lofty's Diary, Part V. Ethelberta [pp. 502-513]

EXTRACTS FROM MRS. LOFTY'S DIARY.
bodies first?" and Ethel began to warm
up and grow argumentative. "That's
what the Founder did. He filled up their
stomachs and healed their aches and
pains, and preached the good word to
the poor. What good word do the poor
ecer hear out of our pulpits?"
"You're an anarchist," said Harry,
a bomb thrower, a petroleuse."
"I did n't inaugurate the discussion,"
retorted Ethel. " Give me a slice of
bread, Auntie, and 1'11 make a sandwich
to stick in my pocket."
"Have you a pocket?" inquired Harry
with interest. "Now I know that you
are a new woman beyond a shadow of a
doubt."
Ethel came back from her "spin" with
two more layers of sunburn, and sat opposite the improper man at dinner, and
treated him with the most frigid politeness; and before he and Harry finished
their cigars and came into the drawing
room, she went away to take a nap;
fori she owned up to me that she was
tired.
I did not suppose Reuben would notice
her absence, but he did look around for
her when he came in; and 1 know Harry
was not pleased.
That was the first Sunday; this one
was worse, for she was really rude to
Reuben when he tried to make some
slight conversation with her. She need
not put herself out to define her position,
for Reuben was only trying to be civil to
a guest in our house. He is a confirmed
woman hater. I told her as much in
plain terms after he was gone.
"Aunt Patsie," said she, "when I
meet him in your house I shall be civil
to him; I don't think I was less than
that today. But anywhere else, I shall
not know him, any more than I would a
woman of the same antecedents."
It is dreadful. I wish Reuben would
stay away for a while until she is gone.
Monday. I asked Ethel today how
she could reconcile her opinions about
churches with those of the devout young
man to whom she is betrothed.
" O," she said, "we never clash
about that. Religion is the last thing I
should ever quarrel about with anyone.
Politics I might, but not religion; that's
a purely personal matter. I should n't
care if he were a Catholic, as far as that
is concerned, if he felt that those particular forms and ordinances were helpful
to him. He is a good man, and that's
enough for me."
"When are you to be married, Ethel?"
I inquired.
" 0, I don't know," she replied carelessly. " I am in no hurry. I am very
well as I am. Freedom is sweet; and
though of course Arthur will never dictate to me, still I recognize the fact that
a married woman has duties and obligations, and that her best powers must be
devoted to her husband and children."
"Indeed!" said I.
Yes indeed," she answered. " I attended a cooking class all last winter;
and 1 have quite an idea of going as a
nurse in the children's hospital for two
or three months this winter. A woman
certainly ought to be prepared at all
points before she ventures upon such an
important step as matrimony."
"H'm!" said I. "I suppose you are
quite posted on the rearing of children?
The Ladies Hone Journal, now, for instance, would give you many valuable
hints."
"0, yes!" assented Ethel with positive enthusiasm." I always read the
mother's column in the papers, don't
you know. Dear, dear, is n't it dreadful to think how the poor little babies
are mistreated, just from pure ignorance?
Fed whenever they are hungry, and
taken up whenever they cry, and all
that sort of thing; instead of being
properly trained and disciplined right
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