But aside from the pertness of the answer, already it was dimly recognised as an offence for one to stay up longer than the other.

They mistake pertness for wit; audacity for cleverness; disrespect to old age for independence; and general bad manners for individuality.

And perhaps we may think that as the parts which she selected required rather an arch pertness than the grace and majesty which were more natural to her, so, also, they were not altogether in keeping with the stately dignity which queens should never wholly lay aside.