it into his head to do it."

"Or if Uncle Geoffrey would advise her," said Fred; "but it never
answers to try to make him propose anything to her. He never will do
it; he always says he is not the Pope, or something to that effect."

"If I was not fully convinced that it was right, and the best for all
parties, I would not say so much about it," said Henrietta, in a tone
rather as if she was preparing for some great sacrifice, instead of
domineering over her mother.

To domineering, her temptation was certainly great. With all her good
sense and ability, Mrs. Langford had seldom been called upon to decide
for herself, but had always relied upon her mother for counsel; and
during her long and gradual decline had learnt to depend upon her
brother-in-law, Mr. Geoffrey Langford, for direction in great affairs,
and in lesser ones upon her children. Girls are generally older of
their age than boys, and Henrietta, a clever girl and her mother's
constant companion, occupied a position in the family which amounted to
something more than prime minister. Some one person must always be
leader, and thus she had gradually attained, or had greatness thrust
upon her; for justice requires it to be stated, that she more
frequently tried to know her mamma's mind for her, than to carry her
own point, though perhaps to do so always was more than could be
expected of human nature at sixteen. The habit of being called on to
settle whether they should use the britska or the pony carriage,
whether satin or silk was best, or this or that book should be ordered,
was, however, sufficient to make her very unwilling to be thwarted in
other matters of more importance, especially in one on which were fixed
the most ardent hopes of her brother, and the wishes of all the family.