'And with everything to learn, in such a scene as that! The first
day, when only the boys were ill, there sat the girl, dabbling with
her water-colours, and her petticoats reaching half across the room,
looking like a milliner's doll, and neither she nor her poor mother
dreaming of her doing a useful matter.'

'Who is spiteful now, papa? That's all envy at not having such an
accomplished daughter. When she came out in time of need so grandly,
and showed all a woman's instinct--'

'Woman's nonsense! Instinct is for irrational brutes, and the more
you cultivate a woman, the less she has of it, unless you work up her
practical common sense too.'

'Some one said she made a wonderful nurse.'

'Wonderful? Perhaps so, considering her opportunities, and she does
better with Spencer than with me; I may have called her to order
impatiently, for she is nervous with me, loses her head, and knocks
everything down with her petticoats. Then--not a word to any one,
Ethel--but imagine her perfect blindness to her poor mother's state
all yesterday, and last night, not even calling Burdon to look at
her; why, those ten hours may have made all the difference!'

'Poor thing, how is she getting on now?'

'Concentrated upon Leonard, too much stunned to admit another idea--
no tears--hardly full comprehension. One can't take her away, and
she can't bear not to do everything, and yet one can't trust her any