that she excelled all other damsels with her bright blue eyes and
pretty curling hair, which had the same chestnut shine as Griff's--
enough to make us correct possible vanity by terming it red, though
we were ready to fight any one else who presumed to do so. Indeed
Griff had defended its hue in single combat, and his eye was treated
for it with beefsteak by Peter in the pantry. We were immensely,
though silently, proud of her in her white embroidered cambric
frock, red sash and shoes, and coral necklace, almost an heirloom,
for it had been brought from Sicily in Nelson's days by my mother's
poor young father. How parents and doctors in these days would have
shuddered at her neck and arms, bare, not only in the evening, but
by day! When she was a little younger she could so shrink up from
her clothes that Griff, or little Martyn, in a mischievous mood,
would put things down her back, to reappear below her petticoats.
Once it was a dead wasp, which descended harmlessly the length of
her spine! She was a good-humoured, affectionate, dear sister, my
valued companion, submitting patiently to be eclipsed when Clarence
was present, and everything to me in his absence. Sturdy little
Martyn too, was held by us to be the most promising of small boys.
He was a likeness of Clarence, only stouter, hardier, and without
the delicate, girlish, wistful look; imitating Griff in everything,
and rather a heavy handful to Emily and me when left to our care,
though we were all the more proud of his high spirit, and were fast
becoming a mutual admiration society.

What then were our feelings when Griff, always fearless, dashed to
the rescue of a boy under whom the ice had broken in St. James'
Park, and held him up till assistance came? Martyn, who was with
him, was sent home to fetch dry clothes and reassure my mother,
which he did by dashing upstairs, shouting, 'Where's mamma? Here's