Children must learn to walk, but not by being turned out alone in
Cheapside.
She was relieved from some perplexity for the present, however,
by the arrival of a letter from Mrs. Wardour to Letty, written in
a tone of stiffly condescendent compassion--not so unpleasant to
Letty as to her friend, because from childhood she had been used
to the nature that produced it, and had her mind full of a vast,
undefined notion of the superiority of the writer. It may be a
question whether those who fill our inexperienced minds with
false notions of their greatness, do us thereby more harm or
good; certainly when one comes to understand with what an
arrogance and self-assertion they have done so, putting into us
as reverence that which in them is conceit, one is ready to be
scornful more than enough; but, rather than have a child question
such claims, I would have him respect the meanest soul that ever
demanded respect; the first shall be last in good time, and the
power of revering come forth uninjured; whereas a child judging
his elders has already withered the blossom of his being.
But Mrs. Wardour's letter was kind-perhaps a little repentant; it
is hard to say, for ten persons will repent of a sin for one who
will confess it--I do not mean to the priest--that may be an easy
matter, but to the only one who has a claim to the confession,
namely, the person wronged.
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