36 THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
more desirable than any human society he had 
met with yet.” 
“ Which atrocious remark,” replied the broth¬ 
er, “ was not very complimentary to you, sister 
mine, and that perhaps may account for the 
questionable complexion which you have given 
to his character.” 
“ It was no great mark of his good-breeding,” 
interposed Ella, “ when talking to a lady to 
make such an invidious remark; but we should 
have little to do in this world if we should pass 
by every one lacking in good sense; and so I 
suppose that Mr. Davidson is entitled to his 
share of our benevolent sympathies.—But, fath¬ 
er, I do not see in what way we can essentially 
aid in securing the desirable result. It would 
be indelicate for me and sister to put ourselves 
forward or assume to be instructors to those 
who are our superiors in knowledge, even when 
they are of our own sex, but when the subjects 
are intelligent young men the impropriety is 
beyond question.” 
“ True, my daughter,” was the reply, “ and be 
assured that I shall ask you to do no equivo¬ 
cal service. 
“There are two ways in which character is 
