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Motherlaughedon，andasshedidsoshedrewbackherhandsandstudiedthem。Thenshelookedathimagain，onepinkdimpleflashinghereandthere，alloverherface。
“Well，tobeginattherootofthematter，“shesaid，“thatisanenormousbigwordthatyouareusinglightly。Anyoneinpetticoatsisnotalady——bynomeans！Aladymustbebornofunsulliedbloodforatleastthreegenerations，oneachsideofherhouse。Thinkforaminuteaboutwhereyouaregoingtofulfilthatcondition。Thenshemustbegentlebynature，andrearing。Shemustknowallthereistolearnfrombooks，havewideexperiencetocoverallemergencies，shemustbesteepedinsocialgraces，anddiplomaticbynature。Shemustriseunruffledtoanyemergency，neverwound，neveroffend，alwayshelpandheal，shemustbeperfectindeportment，virtue，wifehoodandmotherhood。Shemustbegraceful，pleasingandbeautiful。Shemusthavemuchleisuretoperfectherselfinlearning，gracesandarts——“
“Madame，youdrawanimpossiblepicture！“criedMr。Pryor。
“Idrawthepictureoftheonlywomanonearthtrulyentitledtobecalledalady。Youuseagoodwordlightly。Ihavetoldyouwhatittakestomakealady——nowlookatme！“
Howshelaughed！Mr。Pryorlooked，buthedidn’tlaugh。
“Morethaneveryouconvincemethatyouarealady，indeed，“hesaid。
Motherwipedhereyes。
“Mydearman！“shecried，“I’mthedaughterofaDutchmiller，wholivedonaPennsylvaniamountainstream。Thereneverwasaschoolanywherenearus，andfatherandmotheronlytaughtustowork。PaulStantontookagristthere，andsawme。Hemarriedme，andbroughtmehere。Hetaughtmetoreadandwrite。I
learnedmylessonswithmyelderchildren。Hehasalwayskeptschoolinourhouse，everynightofhislife。Ourchildrensupposeditwasforthem；Iknewitwasquiteasmuchforme。
WhileIsatatknittingorsewing，Ispelledoverthewordshegaveout。Iknownothingofmyancestors，savethattheycamefromthelowlandsofHolland，downwheretherewerecities，schools，andbusiness。Theywerewelleducated，buttheywouldnottakethetroubletoteachtheirchildren。AsIhavespokentoyou，myhusbandtaughtme。AllIknowIlearnfromhim，fromwhathereadsaloud，andplaceshetakesme。Iexistinatwenty-mileradius，butthroughhim，Iknowalllands，principalitiesandkingdoms，peoplesandcustoms。Ineedneverbeashamedtogo，orafraidtospeak，anywhere。“
“Indeednot！“criedMr。Pryor。
“Butwhenyouthinkontheessentialsofareallady——andthenpicturemepatching，withaFirstReaderproppedbeforeme；
facingIndians，Gypsies，wildanimals——andtheyusedtobebadenough——why，ImindonetimeinOhiowhenourfirstbabywasonlyabletostandbesideachair，andthroughtheroughpuncheonflooracopperheadstuckupitsgleamofbronzygold，andshotitsdartingtonguewithinafootofherbareleg。Byallaccounts，aladywouldhavereachedforhersmellingsaltsandgracefullyfaintedaway；infact，aladyneverwouldhavebeeninsuchaplaceatall。ItwasmyjobtothrowthefirstthingI
couldlaymyhandsonsostraightandtruethatIwouldbreakthatsnake’sneck，andsenditsdeadlyfangsawayfrommybaby。
IdiditwithPaul’splane，andneatlytoo！ThenIhadtoputthebabyonthebedandtearupeverypieceofthefloortoseethatthesnakehadnotamateinhidingthere，forcopperheadsatthatseasonweregoingpairs。OnceIwasdriventofaceabigsquaw，andthreatenedthelifeofherbabywithared-hotpokerwhileshemenacedminewithahuntingknife。Thereisnotonecold，rough，hardexperienceofpioneerlifethatIhavenotendured。Shouldertoshoulder，andhearttoheart，I’vestoodbesidemyman，anddonewhathadtobedone，tobuildthishome，rearourchildren，saveourproperty。Many’sthenightIhaveshiveredinabarndoctoringsickcattleandhorseswecouldillaffordtolose。TimeandagainIhavehungonandbroughtthingsoutalive，afterthemengaveupandquit。Alady？Howfunny！“
“Theamusementisallonyourpart，Madame。“
“Soitseems！“saidmother。“Butyousee，Iknowsowellhowridiculousitis。WhenIthinkofthelifeawomanmustleadinordertobetrulyalady，whenIreviewthelifeIhavebeenforcedtolivetodomyshareinmakingthishome，andrearingthesechildren，thecontrastistoogreat。IthankGodforanypartIhavebeenabletotake。HadIlifetoliveover，IseenowwhereIcoulddomore；butneighbour，believeme，myhighestaspirationistobeaclean，thriftyhousekeeper，abountifulcook，afaithfulwife，asympatheticmother。Thatislifeworkforanywoman，andtobeagoodwomanisthegreatestthingonearth。Nevermindabouttheladies；ifyoucanhonestlysayofme，sheisagoodwoman，youhavepaidmethehighestpossibletribute。“
“Ihavenothingtochange，inthefaceofyourargument，“saidMr。Pryor。“OurlovedQueenonherthroneisnofinerlady。“
Thattimemotherdidn’tlaugh。Shelookedstraightathimaminuteandthenshesaid：“Well，foranEnglishman，asIknowthem，youhavesaidthelastword。Higherpraisethereisnone。
Butb
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