g.

Charles burst into a loud laugh at their innocent surprise at his violent
gesticulation and grimace.

"I know what you mean," said Ellen, rather poutingly; "yes, I know it very
well, though I don't choose to talk about things of that kind, because I
have always been told that none but ignorant and foolish people did so."

"But I entreat you," said Charles, "to tell me what you think I mean, for I
am sure you surprise me now as much as I did you."

"Why, I suppose Henry's holy shade means spirit, and it was that which
drew Priam's curtains in the dead of night, (or which he thought did,)
though it was probably only the housemaid."

Again Charles burst into an immoderate fit of laughter,
exclaiming--"Housemaid! admirable! upon my word, Ellen, you have found a
personage in the old king's establishment Homer never thought of."

"I never read Homer," said Ellen, simply.

"No, child, you need not tell us that," continued Charles, most provokingly
continuing to laugh, until poor Ellen was completely disconcerted, and
looked in the face of Edmund with such an appealing air, that he assumed a
look of much more serious remonstrance than was usual as he thus addressed
his brother--"You may laugh as long as you please, sir, but your whole
conduct in this affair has shown so much less knowledge, as well as good
sense, than Ellen herself has displayed, that really I should not wonder
if a moment's recollection made you cry as heartily as you now laugh."

"Indeed!" said Charles, suddenly stopping.

"Yes, _indeed_! In the first place, there can be surely no doubt but you
and I have read a great deal more than the girls, and could at any time
puzzle and distress them by various quotations; but when they make
inquiries to increase their own stock of knowledge, it is our duty, and
ought to be our pleasure, to give them information, not confusion, which
you evidently intended to do; besides, it is rude, almost inhuman, to
oppress any person, even by the possession of that which is in itself
praiseworthy; and as the end of all conversation is, or ought to be,
improvement, a person who in any manner checks the spirit of inquiry and
free discussion, hinders that end. We all know that English history is all
that Ellen has dipped into, and in the little she presumed to utter on the
subject, she was perfectly correct; whereas you, in your exhibition of
more reading, made a palpable error, since Homer names maids repeatedly as
belong