: 
208 THE CORAL RING. 
for your fellow-creatures, unless you are to do it in 
the most genteel, comfortable, and picturesque 
manner possible, is there not a great field for a 
woman like you, Florence, in your influence over 
your associates? With your talents for conversa- 
tion, your tact and self-possession, and lady-like 
gift of saying any thing you choose, are you not 
responsible, in some wise, for the influence you 
exert over those by whom you are surrounded ? " 
" I never thought of it," replied Florence. 
" Now, you remember the remarks that Mr. 
Fortesque made, the other evening, on the reli- 
gious services at church ? " 
" Yes, I do ; and thought then he was too bad." 
" And I do not suppose there was one of you 
ladies in the room that did not think so too ; but 
yet the matter was all passed over with smiles, 
and with not a single insinuation that he had said 
any thing unpleasing or disagreeable." 
" Well, what could we do ? One does not 
want to be rude, you know." 
" Do ! Could you not, Florence, you who have 
always taken the lead in society, and who have 
been noted for always being able to say and do as 
you please, could you not have shown him that 
those remarks were unpleasing to you, as decid- 
edly as you certainly would have done if they had 
related to the character of your father or brother ? 
To my mind, a woman of true moral feeling 
should feel herself as much insulted when her 

