If she had been in England a year before the marriage, she would, I think, have understood better how to guide her steps and her tongue for his good pleasure.

She learns daily, very quickly: observes, assimilates; she reads and has her comments--would have shot far ahead of your Riette, with my advantages.
'Your uncle--but he will bear any charge on his conscience as long as he can get the burden off his shoulders.

Do not fret, my own! Reperuse the above--you will see we have grounds for hope.
'He should have looked down on her! No tears from her eyes, but her eyes were tears.

She does not rank among beautiful women.

She has her moments for outshining them--the loveliest of spectres! She caught at my heart.
I cannot forget her face looking up for him to look down.