"I can only say, please treat her exactly as if she were your own." Mr.and Mrs.Dinsmore now joined them, and the question what studies the children should pursue during the coming winter was discussed and settled.
Then the captain spoke of reading matter, asked advice in regard to suitable books and periodicals, and begged his friends to have a careful oversight of all the mental food of his children.
"You could not intrust that matter to a more wise and capable person than papa," Elsie said, with an affectionate, smiling look at her father.

"I well remember how strict he was with me in my childhood; novels were coveted but forbidden sweets." "You must have been glad when you were old enough to read them, mamma," remarked Zoe, joining the circle.
"You read far too many, my little woman," said Mr.Dinsmore, pinching her rosy cheek.

"If I were Edward, I should curtail the supply, and try to cultivate a taste for something better." "But I'm a married woman and sha'n't submit to being treated like a child, grandpa," she said, with a little pout and a toss of her pretty head.
"Not even by me ?" asked Edward, leaning down over her as he stood behind her chair.
"No, not even by you," she returned saucily, looking up into his face with laughing eyes.

"I'm your wife, sir, not your child." "Both, I should say," laughed Edward.

"I remember that I was considered a mere child at your age.