human
Are you vexed? asked Amy, as soon as the door was closed.
gpt
You look so.
human
I am rather, said Miss Morton,
gpt
But not you, observed Amy;
human
Only it is difficult, said Miss Morton,
gpt
I wish Miss Stanley had kept to her own room this morning, said Amy.
human
I am afraid she will spoil our pleasure all day.
gpt
Oh no! she will soon forget it all; and I do not think she will take Miss Cunningham's anger much to heart; it will rather amuse her than otherwise.
human
I should not like her to be amused at me, said Amy;
gpt
I must give you a lecture too, said Emily, smiling.
human
Why should you be afraid of people merely because they are clever, and say sharp things? It is making cleverness of as much consequence as Miss Stanley does; besides being a dangerous feeling, and one which often prevents us from doing our duty.
gpt
Ah! but, said Amy,
human
I cannot feel quite as you do. I always have thought a great deal about it, and longed to be very clever myself, and for every one to admire me, and look up to me.
gpt
And I have done the same, said Emily.
human
I will not say that I never do so now; but it is very contrary to what the Bible commands.
gpt
Do you really think so? inquired Amy, looking much distressed.
human
Yet it seems so natural; and cleverness is different from riches, or rank, or anything of that kind.
gpt
Can you recollect any part of the Bible in which it is said that God takes pleasure in it?
human
There is a great deal about wisdom in the Book of Proverbs, answered Amy;
gpt
Yes, replied Emily;
human
Then, said Amy,
gpt
Indeed, replied Miss Morton,
human
You will see what I mean, if you will think of being clever in the same way as you do of being rich. We all know that it is the way of the world to value people for their money, but common sense tells us that it is very absurd; and yet no one would deny that riches may be made of great use to our fellow-creatures, though they do not make us in the smallest degree more acceptable in the eye of God. I wish I could explain myself more clearly. Perhaps, if I were very clever, I might be able to do it; and then, you see, my knowledge would be of use to you, though it would not make me either better or worse in myself.
gpt
I think that is clever, said Amy, laughing;
human
You must not say that, said Emily.
gpt
You know you are not very old yet; and if we thought about everything rightly at the beginning of our life, it would not be necessary for us to have so many years to learn in. As long as we are not standing still, we may be tolerably happy, though we do happen to blunder in the dark way.
human
I think I am always blundering, said Amy;
gpt
Yes, said Miss Morton,
human
I remember, replied Amy,
gpt
she added,