Y.M. Training! Oh, what's the use of it? Didn't I, and didn't my
mother try to train me up to where I would no longer fly out at that
girl?
O.M. Have you never managed to keep back a scolding?
Y.M. Oh, certainly--many times.
O.M. More times this year than last?
Y.M. Yes, a good many more.
O.M. More times last year than the year before?
Y.M. Yes.
O.M. There is a large improvement, then, in the two years?
Y.M. Yes, undoubtedly.
O.M. Then your question is answered. You see there IS use in training.
Keep on. Keeping faithfully on. You are doing well.
Y.M. Will my reform reach perfection?
O.M. It will. UP to YOUR limit.
Y.M. My limit? What do you mean by that?
O.M. You remember that you said that I said training was EVERYTHING. I
corrected you, and said "training and ANOTHER thing." That other thing
is TEMPERAMENT--that is, the disposition you were born with. YOU CAN'T
ERADICATE YOUR DISPOSITION NOR ANY RAG OF IT--you can only put a pressure
on it and keep it down and quiet. You have a warm temper?
Y.M. Yes.
O.M. You will never get rid of it; but by watching it you can keep it
down nearly all the time. ITS PRESENCE IS YOUR LIMIT. Your reform will
never quite reach perfection, for your temper will beat you now and then,
but you come near enough. You have made valuable progress and can make
more.
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