The Vanderpools were sure of this and the Englishman, instancing India, became quite eloquent. Mrs. ¬ÝGrey was mystified, but hardly dared admit it. The general trend of the conversation seemed to be that most individuals needed to be submitted to the sharpest scrutiny before being allowed much education, and as for the ‚Äúlower races‚Äù it was simply criminal to open such useless opportunities to them.
‚ÄúWhy, I had a colored servant-girl once,‚Äù laughed Mrs. ¬ÝVanderpool by way of climax, ‚Äúwho spent half her wages in piano lessons.‚Äù
Then Mary Taylor, whose conscience was uncomfortable, said:
‚ÄúBut, Mr. ¬ÝCresswell, you surely believe in schools like Miss Smith‚Äôs?‚Äù
‚ÄúDecidedly,‚Äù returned Mr. ¬ÝCresswell, with enthusiasm, ‚Äúit has done great good.‚Äù
Mrs. ¬ÝGrey was gratified and murmured something of Miss Smith‚Äôs ‚Äúsacrifice.‚Äù
“Positively heroic,” added Cresswell, avoiding his sister’s eyes.
“Of course,” Mary Taylor hastened to encourage this turn of the conversation, “there are many points on which Miss Smith and I disagree, but I think everybody admires her work.”
Mrs. ¬ÝGrey wanted particulars. ‚ÄúWhat did you disagree about?‚Äù she asked bluntly.
‚ÄúI may be responsible for some of the disagreement,‚Äù interrupted Mr. ¬ÝCresswell, hesitatingly; ‚ÄúI‚Äôm afraid Miss Smith does not approve of us white Southerners.‚Äù
“But you mean to say you can’t even advise her?”