She came in and out of Sir Miles's library of a morning, or his drawing-room of an evening, till her hour for rest, with unquestioned and sometimes unnoticed freedom; she listened to the conversation around her, and formed her own conclusions unchecked.

It has a great influence upon a child, whether for good or for evil, to mix early and habitually with those grown up,--for good to the mere intellect always; the evil depends upon the character and discretion of those the child sees and hears.

"Reverence the greatest is due to the children," exclaims the wisest of the Romans [Cicero.

The sentiment is borrowed by Juvenal.],--that is to say, that we must revere the candour and inexperience and innocence of their minds.
Now, Sir Miles's habitual associates were persons of the world,--well-bred and decorous, indeed, before children, as the best of the old school were, avoiding all anecdotes; all allusions, for which the prudent matron would send her girls out of the room; but with that reserve speaking of the world as the world goes: if talking of young A----, calculating carelessly what he would have when old A----, his father, died; naturally giving to wealth and station and ability their fixed importance in life; not over-apt to single out for eulogium some quiet goodness; rather inclined to speak with irony of pretensions to virtue; rarely speaking but with respect of the worldly seemings which rule mankind.

All these had their inevitable effect upon that keen, quick, yet moody and reflective intellect.
Sir Miles removed at last to Laughton.