Sara sighed . `` Oh , I dare say she is all right , Stephen . And I 'm really grateful to you . I 'm sure I could have done nothing at all with her . It 's not your fault , of course , -- but I ca n't help wishing she were a little more like other girls . '' I galloped away from Glenby in a rage . What a blessing Sara had not married me in my absurd youth ! She would have driven me wild with her sighs and her obtuseness and her everlasting pink-and-whiteness . But there -- there -- there -- gently ! She was a sweet , good-hearted little woman ; she had made Jack happy ; and she had contrived , heaven only knew how , to bring a rare creature like Betty into the world . For that , much might be forgiven her . By the time I reached The Maples and had flung myself down in an old , kinky , comfortable chair in my library I had forgiven her and was even paying her the compliment of thinking seriously over what she had said . Was Betty really unlike other girls ? That is to say , unlike them in any respect wherein she should resemble them ? I did not wish this ; although I was a crusty old bachelor I approved of girls , holding them the sweetest things the good God has made . I wanted Betty to have her full complement of girlhood in all its best and highest manifestation . Was there anything lacking ? I observed Betty very closely during the next week or so , riding over to Glenby every day and riding back at night , meditating upon my observations . Eventually I concluded to do what I had never thought myself in the least likely to do . I would send Betty to a boarding-school for a year .
It was necessary that she should learn how to live with other XXXXX .
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