boy, Caesar, stumbled at the
tiger-skin mat: and I am sure no other gentleman in the room would have
condescended to see it. There are many little things by which it is
easy to tell that Ephraim has not been used to the best society. And
yet, I could not help feeling that if I were ill and wanted to be helped
up-stairs, or if I were wretched and wanted comforting, it would be
Ephraim to whom I should appeal, and not one of these fine gentlemen.
They seemed only to be made for sunshine. He would wear, and stand
rain. If Hatty's "men" were all Ephraims, there might be some sense in
caring for their opinions. But these fellows--I really can't afford a
better word--these "chiels with glasses in their e'en," as Sam says, who
seem to have no opinions beyond the colour of their coats and paying
compliments to everything they see with a petticoat on--do they expect
sensible women to care what they think? Let them have a little more
sense themselves first--that's what I say!

I said so, one morning as we were dressing: and to my surprise, Annas
replied,--

"I fancy they have sense enough, Cary, when there are no women in the
room. They think we only care for nonsense."

"Yes, I expect that is it," added Flora.

I flew out. I could not stand that. What sort of women must their
mothers and sisters be?

"Card-playing snuff-takers and giddy flirts," said Annas. "Be just to
them, Cary. If they never see women of any other sort, how are they to
know that such are?"

"Poor wretches! do you think that possible. Annas?" said I.

"Miserably possible," she said, very seriously. "In every human heart,
Cary, there is a place where the man or the woman dwells inside all the
frippery and mannerism; the real creature itself, stripped of all
disguises. Dig down to that place if you want to see it."

"I should think it takes a vast deal of digging!"

"Yes, in some people. But that is the thing God looks at: that is it
for which Christ died, and for which Christ's servants ought to feel
love and pity."

I thought it would be terribly difficult to feel love or pity for some
people!

My Uncle Charles has just come in, and he says a rumour is flying that
there has been a great battle near Edinburgh, and that the Prince (who
was victorious) is marching on Carlisle. Flora went very white, and
even Annas set her lips: but I do not see what we have to fear--at least
if Angus and Mr Keith are safe.

"Charles," said Grandmam