She could fill in and finish a drawing, while her sister was still struggling, and struggling in vain, with the first principles of the art.
But there was a softness about Linda, for such was the name of the second Miss Woodward, which in the eyes of many men made up both for the superior beauty and superior talent of Gertrude.
Gertrude was, perhaps, hardly so soft as so young a girl should be.

In her had been magnified that spirit of gentle raillery which made so attractive a part of her mother's character.

She enjoyed and emulated her mother's quick sharp sayings, but she hardly did so with her mother's grace, and sometimes attempted it with much more than her mother's severity.

She also detested fools; but in promulgating her opinion on this subject, she was too apt to declare who the fools were whom she detested.
It may be thought that under such circumstances there could be but little confidence between the sisters; but, nevertheless, in their early days, they lived together as sisters should do.
Gertrude, when she spoke of fools, never intended to include Linda in the number; and Linda appreciated too truly, and admired too thoroughly, her sister's beauty and talent to be jealous of either.
Of the youngest girl, Katie, it is not necessary at present to say much.

At this time she was but thirteen years of age, and was a happy, pretty, romping child.