CHAPTER XV

regardforyourownreputationandyourfamily’sstanding,haveyounoneformyfeelings?’Shesaid,‘None.’Justlikethat,‘None!’” “Insanepeopleneverdohaveanyregardforotherpeople’sfeelings,”saidUncleBenjamin.“That’soneofthesymptoms.” “Ibrokeoutintotearsthen,andshesaid,‘Comenow,Mother,beagoodsport.I’mgoingtodoanactofChristiancharity,andasforthedamageitwilldomyreputation,why,youknowIhaven’tanymatrimonialchancesanyhow,sowhatdoesitmatter?’Andwiththatsheturnedandwentout.” “ThelastwordsIsaidtoher,”saidCousinSticklespathetically,“were,‘Whowillrubmybackatnightsnow?’Andshesaid—shesaid—butno,Icannotrepeatit.” “Nonsense,”saidUncleBenjamin.“Outwithit.Thisisnotimetobesqueamish.” “Shesaid”—CousinStickles’voicewaslittlemorethanawhisper—“shesaid—‘Oh,darn!’” “TothinkIshouldhavelivedtohearmydaughterswearing!”sobbedMrs.Frederick. “It—itwasonlyimitationswearing,”falteredCousinStickles,desirousofsmooth