'Oh! she was always an upright, noble-spirited child,' said Lady
Merton,

'And now,' continued Anne, 'when she is much interested in anything,
when her brilliant dark eyes are lighted up, and her beautiful smile
is on her lips, and her whole face is full of brightness, and she
looks slight and airy enough to be a spirit, and when she is talking
about some things--I could fancy her some higher kind of creature.'

Lady Merton smiled. 'I think I know what you mean,' said she; 'I
used to feel something of the kind with her mother.'

'What a wonderful person Aunt Katherine must have been!' cried Anne.
She paused, and presently added, 'Mamma, I do not know whether I
ought to say so, but much as I like Mrs. Woodbourne, I do rather
wonder that Uncle Woodbourne married again.'

'So did your Papa and I,' said Lady Merton; 'but you must excuse him,
when you think of his three little girls, Elizabeth especially,
requiring such anxious care of body and mind.'

'But you do not think Mrs. Woodbourne could manage Lizzie?' said
Anne.

'No,' said Lady Merton, 'she could not manage her in the least, but
her mild influence has, I think, been of great service to her.
Lizzie has certainly grown more gentle of late, and I think it is
from consideration for her and the little children.'