Midsummer Night's Dream

It was quite true that Cecil Charnock Poynsett was a very
intelligent industrious creature, very carefully brought up--nay, if
possible, a little too much so. "A little wholesome neglect" had
been lacking.

The only child of her parents who had lived to see a second birthday
was sure to be the centre of solicitude. She had not been spoilt in
the usual acceptation of the word, for she had no liberty, fewer
indulgences and luxuries than many children, and never was permitted
to be naughty; but then she was quite aware that each dainty or each
pleasure was granted or withheld from a careful consideration of her
welfare, and that nothing came by chance with her. And on her rare
ebullitions of self-will, mamma, governess, nurse, nay even papa,
were all in sorrowful commotion till their princess had been brought
to a sense of the enormity of her fault.

She lost her mother at fourteen, but the same anxious training was
carried on by her father; and after three years he married her
mother's most intimate friend, avowedly that the perfect system
might be continued. Cecil's gaieties as a come-out young lady were
selected on the same judicious principles as her childish
diversions; and if ever the Dunstone family favoured an
entertainment not to their taste, it was after a debate on the need
of condescension and good-nature. She had, however, never had a
season in London--a place her father hated; but she was taken abroad
as soon as she was deemed old enough thoroughly to appreciate what
she was to see there; and in Switzerland her Cousin Raymond, who had
at different times visited Dunstone, overtook the party, and ere