"Your papa would have had his thoughts turned to the disappointment again and it makes Richard himself so unhappy to see his vexation, that I believe it is better not to renew it." "But to miss him for so long!" said Margaret.

"Perhaps it is best, for it is very miserable when papa is sarcastic and sharp, and he cannot understand it, and takes it as meaning so much more than it really does, and grows all the more frightened and diffident.

I cannot think what he would do without you to encourage him." "Or you, you good sister," said her mother, smiling.

"If we could only teach him not to mind being laughed at, and to have some confidence in himself, he and papa would get on together." "It is very hard," cried Margaret, almost indignantly, "that papa won't believe it, when he does his best." "I don't think papa can bear to bring himself to believe that it is his best." "He is too clever himself to see how other people can be slow," said Margaret; "and yet"-- the tears came into her eyes--"I cannot bear to think of his telling Richard it was no use to think of being a clergyman, and he had better turn carpenter at once, just because he failed in his examination." "My dear, I wish you would forget that," said Mrs.May.

"You know papa sometimes says more than he means, and he was excessively vexed and disappointed.