In consequence, an ill-natured story got about, that Em'ly wanted to be a lady.

Now my opinion is, that it came into circulation principally on account of her sometimes saying, at the school, that if she was a lady she would like to do so-and-so for her uncle--don't you see ?--and buy him such-and-such fine things.' 'I assure you, Mr.Omer, she has said so to me,' I returned eagerly, 'when we were both children.' Mr.Omer nodded his head and rubbed his chin.

'Just so.

Then out of a very little, she could dress herself, you see, better than most others could out of a deal, and that made things unpleasant.

Moreover, she was rather what might be called wayward--I'll go so far as to say what I should call wayward myself,' said Mr.Omer; '-didn't know her own mind quite--a little spoiled--and couldn't, at first, exactly bind herself down.