sayings as leaked through his own set, to reinvigorate mankind. This
roused Julia's ire. It smouldered through three letters; but burst out
when there was no letter; but Mrs. Dodd, meaning, Heaven knows, no harm,
happened to say meekly, _a propos_ of Edward, "You know, love, we cannot
all be young Hardies." "No, and thank Heaven," said Julia defiantly.
"Yes, mamma," she continued, in answer to Mrs. Dodd's eyebrow, which had
curved; "your mild glance reads my soul; I detest that boy." Mrs. Dodd
smiled: "Are you sure you know what the word 'detest' means? And what has
young Mr. Hardie done, that you should bestow so violent a sentiment on
him?"

"Mamma, I am Edward's sister," was the tragic reply; then, kicking off
the buskin pretty nimbly, "There! he beats our boy at everything, and
ours sits quietly down and admires him for it: oh! how can a man let
anybody or anything beat him! I wouldn't; without a desperate struggle."
She clenched her white teeth and imagined the struggle. To be sure, she
owned she had never seen this Mr. Hardie; but after all it was only Jane
Hardie's brother, as Edward was hers; "And would I sit down and let Jane
beat me at Things? Never! never! never! I couldn't."

"Your friend to the death, dear; was not that your expression?"

"Oh, that was a slip of the tongue, dear mamma; I was off my guard. I
generally am, by the way. But now I am on it, and propose an amendment.
Now I second it. Now I carry it."

"And now let me hear it."

"She is my friend till death--or Eclipse; and that means until she
eclipses me, of course." But she added softly, and with sudden gravity: