Catharine did not quite comprehend, inasmuch as there were two boys in
the back shop who were paid wages, and who were learning their trade. She
was quiet for a few minutes, but presently returned to the charge.

"You _must_ take Tom. Why shouldn't you give him what you give the other
boys?"

"Really, Catharine," said her mother, "why _must_?"

"Must!" cried the little miss--"yes, I say _must_, because Mike lost his
eyes for you, and you've done nothing for him; it's a shame."

"Catharine, Catharine!" said her father, but in accordance with his usual
habit he said nothing more, and the mother, also in accordance with her
usual habit, collapsed.

Miss Catharine generally, even at that early age, carried all before her,
much to her own detriment. Her parents unfortunately were perpetually
making a brief show of resistance and afterwards yielding. Frequently
they had no pretext for resistance, for Catharine was right and they were
wrong. Consequently the child grew up accustomed to see everything bend
to her own will, and accustomed to believe that what she willed was in
accordance with the will of the universe--not a healthy education, for
the time is sure to come when a destiny which will not bend stands in the
path before us, and we are convinced by the roughest processes that what
we purpose is to a very small extent the purpose of Nature. The shock
then is serious, especially if the collision be postponed till mature
years. The parental opposition, such as it was, was worse than none,
because it enabled her to feel her strength. She continued to press her