Their shibboleth is different, that's all.

Perhaps--it is possible--that the speech of the town ladies is the more charitable, that they seek more persistently to do good to their fellow-creatures.

I don't know.

Comparisons are odious, but so," he added, with a slight laugh, "are general conclusions, founded on popular prejudice rather than individual experience--odious." Here John perceived that his words of wisdom were conveying hardly any meaning to Peter, who was only waiting impatiently till he had come to an end of them; so he pursued this topic no further, and contented himself by inquiring: "What do you want me to do ?" "I want you to explain to her," said Peter, eagerly, "how unsuitable it would be; and to advise her to settle down quietly at the Dower House, as I'm sure my father would have wished her to do.

That's all." "I see," said John, "you want me to put the case to her from your point of view." "I wish you would," said Peter, earnestly; "every one says you're so eloquent.