please don't treat me like a heroine.
I am sure there is quite enough in the world that is worrying, without
picking shades of manner to pieces. It is the sure way to make an old
crab of me, and so I am going off. Only, one parting piece of advice,
Miss Bracy--read 'Frank Fairlegh', and put everybody out of your head."

And, thinking she had been savage about her hand, Ethel turned back, and
kissed the little governess's forehead, wished her goodnight, and ran
away.

She had learned that, to be rough and merry, was the best way of doing
Miss Bracy good in the end; and so she often gave herself the present
pain of knowing that she was being supposed careless and hard-hearted;
but the violent affection for her proved that the feeling did not last.

Ethel was glad to sit by the fire at bed-time, and think over the day,
outwardly so gay, inwardly so fretting and perplexing.

It was the first time that she had seen much of her little niece. She
was no great baby-handler, nor had she any of the phrases adapted to the
infant mind; but that pretty little serene blue-eyed girl had been her
chief thought all day, and she was abashed by recollecting how little
she had dwelt on her own duties as her sponsor, in the agitations
excited by the doubts about her coadjutor.

She took out her Prayer-book, and read the Service for Baptism,
recollecting the thoughts that had accompanied her youngest sister's
orphaned christening, "The vain pomp and glory of the world, and all
covetous desires of the same." They seemed far enough off then, and
now--poor little Leonora!

Ethel knew that she judged her sister hardly; yet she could not help
picturing to herself the future--a young lady, trained for fashionable
life, serious teaching not omitted, but right made the means of
rising in the world; taught to strive secretly, but not openly, for
admiration--a scheming for her marriage--a career like Flora's own.
Ethel could scarcely feel that it would not be a mockery to declare, on
her behalf, that she renounced the world. But, alas! where was not the
world? Ethel blushed at having censured others, when, so lately, she had
herself been oblivious of the higher duty. She thought of the prayer,
including every Christian in holy and loving intercession--"I pray not
that Thou wouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou wouldest
keep them from the evil."

"Keep her from the evil--that shall be my prayer for my poor little
Leonora. His grace