'
'Still,' said Alethea, 'the same man who would refuse to maintain her
if poor, would not bear with her infirmities if rich.'
'Are the poor never infirm and peevish?' said Mr. Devereux.
'Oh! how much worse it must be to bear with ill-temper in poverty,'
said Emily, 'when we think it quite wonderful to see a young lady
kind and patient with a cross old relation; what must it be when she
is denying herself, not only her pleasure, but her food for her sake;
not merely sitting quietly with her all day, and calling a servant to
wait upon her, but toiling all day to maintain her, and keeping awake
half the night to nurse her?'
'Those are realities, indeed,' said Alethea; 'our greatest efforts
seem but child's play in comparison.'
Lilias could hardly have helped being sobered by this conversation if
she had attended to it, but she had turned away to repeat the story
of Mrs. Walls to Jane, and then, fancying that the others were still
remarking upon it, she said in a light, laughing tone, 'Well, so far
I agree with you. I know of a person who may well be called one of
ourselves, who I could quite fancy making such a speech.'
'Whom do you mean?' said Mr.
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