"Margaret Hamilton has power enough yet to keep us out of that.

Didn't she look crestfallen though, when she found I was going to stay, notwithstanding her very disinterested offer of umbrellas and overshoes?
But I'll pay it all back when I become--" "Mistress of the house," added Lenora.

"Why not speak out plainly?
Or are you afraid the walls have ears, and that the devoted Mrs.Carter's speeches would not sound well repeated?
Oh, how sanctimonious you did look to-day when you were talking pious to Carrie! I actually had to force a sneeze, to keep from laughing outright, though she, little simpleton, swallowed it all, and I dare say wonders where you keep your wings! But really, mother, I hope you don't intend to pet her so always, for 'twould be more than it's worth to see it." "I guess I know how to manage," returned Mrs.Carter.

"There's nothing will win a parent's affection so soon as to pet the children." "And so I suppose you expect Mr.Hamilton to pet _this_ beautiful child!" said Lenora, laughing loudly at the idea, and waltzing back and forth before the mirror.
"Lenora! _behave!_ I will not see you conduct so," said the widow; to which the young lady replied, "Shut your eyes, and then you can't!" Meantime, an entirely different conversation was going on in another part of the house, where sat Walter Hamilton, with his arm thrown affectionately around, Mag, who briefly told of what she feared would result from Mrs.Carter's intimacy at their house.
"Impossible!" said the young man, starting to his feet.

"Impossible! Our father has too much sense to marry again anyway, and much more, to marry one so greatly inferior to our own dear mother." "I hope it may prove so," answered Mag; "but with all due respect for our father, _you_ know and I know that mother's was the stronger mind, the controlling spirit, and now that she is gone father will be more easily deceived." Margaret told the truth; for her mother had possessed a strong, intelligent mind, and was greatly the superior of her father, who, as we have before remarked, was rather weak and easily flattered.