If I had asked you to meet her to-day instead of little Miss Gray from Wavertree, I wonder what you would have done to find a more disagreeable expression of countenance." "Do you wish us to understand that you have adopted this 'nobody's child,' Amy ?" said Mr.Enderby, looking more and more troubled.
"Well, to tell you the truth, I did not mean that quite," said Mrs.
Rushton; "but now that you suggest it--" "_I_ suggest it!" cried Mr.Enderby.
"How horrified you look! But all the same you have suggested it, and I think it is a capital idea." "Do not come to any hasty conclusion, I implore you, Amy.

Think over it well.

Consider the child's interests more than your own momentary self-indulgence!" Mrs.Rushton coloured with displeasure.
"I see you are determined to be as disagreeable as usual," she said angrily.

"As if the monkey could fail to be benefited by my patronage! Pray, will she not be better in my drawing-room than getting under horses' feet about the Wavertree roads, or losing herself in the Wavertree woods ?" "Frankly, I think not," said Mr.Enderby stiffly.
Mrs.Rushton's eyes flashed, and she did her brother the injustice of thinking that he feared her adoption of little Hetty would in some way interfere with the worldly interests of his own children.

She was not accustomed to seek far for other people's meanings and motives, and generally seized on the first which presented itself to her mind.