‚ÄúWhy not?‚ÅÝ‚Äîprovided, of course, they were‚ÅÝ‚Äîwell, gentlefolk and associated accordingly.‚Äù
“But one must associate with one’s pupils.”
‚ÄúOh, certainly, certainly; just as one must associate with one‚Äôs maids and chauffeurs and dressmakers‚ÅÝ‚Äîcordially and kindly, but with a difference.‚Äù
‚ÄúBut‚ÅÝ‚Äîbut, dear Mrs. ¬ÝVanderpool, you wouldn‚Äôt want your children trained that way, would you?‚Äù
“Certainly not, my dear. But these are not my children, they are the children of Negroes; we can’t quite forget that, can we?”
‚ÄúNo, I suppose not,‚Äù Miss Taylor admitted, a little helplessly. ‚ÄúBut‚ÅÝ‚Äîit seems to me‚ÅÝ‚Äîthat‚Äôs the modern idea of taking culture to the masses.‚Äù
“Frankly, then, the modern idea is not my idea; it is too socialistic. And as for culture applied to the masses, you utter a paradox. The masses and work is the truth one must face.”
“And culture and work?”
“Quite incompatible, I assure you, my dear.” She stretched her silken limbs, lazily, while Miss Taylor sat silently staring at the waters.
Just then Mrs. ¬ÝGrey drove up in her new red motor.
Up to the time of Mary Taylor‚Äôs arrival the acquaintance of the Vanderpools and Mrs. ¬ÝGrey had been a matter chiefly of smiling bows. After Miss Taylor came there had been calls and casual intercourse, to Mrs. ¬ÝGrey‚Äôs great gratification and Mrs. ¬ÝVanderpool‚Äôs