creature, she can hardly be more charming than at present. Aubrey,
the moon-faced, is far from reconciled to his disposition from
babyhood; he is a sober, solemn gentleman, backward in talking, and
with such a will of his own, as will want much watching; very
different from Blanche, who is Flora over again, perhaps prettier and
more fairy-like, unless this is only one's admiration for the buds of
the present season. None of them has ever been so winning as this
little maid, who even attracts Dr. Hoxton himself, and obtains sugar-
plums and kisses. 'Rather she than I,' says Harry, but notice is
notice to the white Mayflower, and there is my anxiety--I am afraid
it is not wholesome to be too engaging ever to get a rebuff. I hope
having a younger sister, and outgrowing baby charms may be salutary.
Flora soon left off thinking about her beauty, and the fit of vanity
does less harm at five than fifteen. My poor Tom has not such a
happy life as Blanche, he is often in trouble at lessons, and bullied
by Harry at play, in spite of his champion, Mary; and yet I cannot
interfere, for it is good for him to have all this preparatory
teasing before he goes into school. He has good abilities, but not
much perseverance or energy, and I must take the teaching of him into
my own hands till his school-days begin, in hopes of instilling them.
The girlishness and timidity will be knocked out of him by the boys,
I suppose; Harry is too kind and generous to do more than tease him
moderately, and Norman will see that it does not go too far. It is a
common saying that Tom and Mary made a mistake, that he is the girl,
and she the boy, for she is a rough, merry creature, the noisiest in
the house, always skirmishing with Harry in defence of Tom, and yet
devoted to him, and wanting to do everything he does. Those two,
Harry and Mary, are exactly alike, except for Harry's curly mane of
lion-coloured wig. The yellow-haired laddie, is papa's name for
Harry, which he does not mind from him, though furious if the girls