He seldom found any one volunteering praise of "the little wench"; it was usually left entirely to himself to insist on her merits.

But Maggie always appeared in the most amiable light at her aunt Moss's; it was her Alsatia, where she was out of the reach of law,--if she upset anything, dirtied her shoes, or tore her frock, these things were matters of course at her aunt Moss's.

In spite of himself, Mr.Tulliver's eyes got milder, and he did not look away from his sister as he said,-- "Ay; she's fonder o' you than o' the other aunts, I think.

She takes after our family: not a bit of her mother's in her." "Moss says she's just like what I used to be," said Mrs.Moss, "though I was never so quick and fond o' the books.

But I think my Lizzy's like her; _she's_ sharp.