Loyalty

(Thomas Sully, Gossip)

"Loyalty to personal ties, relationships, friendships, dependents, is a due recognised by most people. . . We know that the character and conduct of our friend is sacred from adverse criticism even in our private thoughts; that what we think and have to say of censure must be said to him and him only; that our time, our society, our sympathy and our service are at his disposal, so far as we can determine." -Charlotte Mason

Miss Mason's interesting twist on gossip was one I had never heard before. She holds that the opposite of gossip is loyalty. If I truly value and love my friend, then I will be devoted enough to her to refrain from marring her character. More food for thought!