But as to anything
degrading in it, I scorn the idea. I heard my father once say
that, to look down on those who have to do such things may be to
despise them for just the one honorable thing about them.--Shall
I tell you what I understand by the word _menial_? You know
it has come to have a disagreeable taste about it, though at
first it only meant, as you say, something that fell to the duty
of attendants."
"Do tell me," answered Hesper, with careless permission.
"I did not find it out myself," said Mary. "My father taught me.
He was a wise as well as a good man, Mrs. Redmain."
"Oh!" said Hesper, with the ordinary indifference of fashionable
people to what an inferior may imagine worth telling them.
"He said," persisted Mary, notwithstanding, "that it is menial to
undertake anything you think beneath you for the sake of money;
and still more menial, having undertaken it, not to do it as well
as possible." "That would make out a good deal more of the menial
in the world than is commonly supposed," laughed Hesper. "I
wonder who would do anything for you if you didn't pay them--one
way or another!"
"I've taken my father's shoes out of Beenie's hands many a time,"
said Mary, "and finished them myself, just for the pleasure of
making them shine for _him_."
"Re-a-ally!" drawled Hesper, and set out for the conclusion that
after all it was no such great compliment the young woman had
paid her in wanting to brush her hair.
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