She asked shyly for his Christian name; but even so little Dahlia withheld.

It was his wish that Dahlia should keep silence concerning him.
"Have you sworn an oath ?" said Rhoda, wonderingly.
"No, dear love," Dahlia replied; "he only mentioned what he desired." Rhoda was ashamed of herself for thinking it strange, and she surrendered her judgement to be stamped by the one who knew him well.
As regarded her uncle, Dahlia admitted that she had behaved forgetfully and unkindly, and promised amendment.

She talked of the Farm as of an old ruin, with nothing but a thin shade of memory threading its walls, and appeared to marvel vaguely that it stood yet.

"Father shall not always want money," she said.

She was particular in prescribing books for Rhoda to read; good authors, she emphasized, and named books of history, and poets, and quoted their verses.