I hope you are a prudent girl, and take care of it." "I think I do;" and Hilary smiled.

"At any rate my sister does for me, and also Elizabeth." "Ah, I liked the look of that girl.

If families did but know that the most useful patent of respectability they can carry about with them is their maid-servant! That is how I always judge my new acquaintances." "There's reason in it, too," said Hilary, amused and drawn out of herself by the frank manner and the cordial voice--I use the adjective advisedly; none the less sweet because its good terse English had a decided Scotch accent, with here and there a Scotch word.

Also there was about Miss Balquidder a certain dry humor essentially Scotch--neither Irish "wit" nor English "fun," but Scotch humor; a little ponderous perhaps, yet sparkling: like the sparkles from a large lump of coal, red-warm at the heart, and capable of warming a whole household.

As many a time it had warmed the little household at Stowbury--for Robert Lyon had it in perfection.