'Indeed you have reason to say so,' answered Martin. 'Between these very
grave pursuits abroad, and family duties at home, their time must be
pretty well engrossed.'
Martin stopped here, for he saw that the ladies regarded him with no
very great favour, though what he had done to deserve the disdainful
expression which appeared in their faces he was at a loss to divine. But
on their going upstairs to their bedrooms--which they very soon did--Mr
Bevan informed him that domestic drudgery was far beneath the exalted
range of these Philosophers, and that the chances were a hundred to one
that not one of the three could perform the easiest woman's work for
herself, or make the simplest article of dress for any of her children.
'Though whether they might not be better employed with such blunt
instruments as knitting-needles than with these edge-tools,' he said,
'is another question; but I can answer for one thing--they don't often
cut themselves. Devotions and lectures are our balls and concerts. They
go to these places of resort, as an escape from monotony; look at each
other's clothes; and come home again.
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