Sophia was sitting in the coolest and prettiest of gowns, working out with elaborate care a pencil drawing of Rydal Mount.

She listened to her mother with the utmost respect and attention, and her fine color brightened slightly at the mention of Julius Sandal; but she never neglected once to change an F or an H pencil for a B at the precise stroke the change was necessary.
"And so you see, Sophia, we may have a strange young man in the house for weeks, and where to put him I can't decide.

And I wanted to begin the preserving and the raspberry vinegar next week, but your father is as thoughtless as ever was; and I am sure if Julius is like _his_ father he'll be no blessing in a house, for I have heard your grandmother speak in such a way of her son Tom." "I thought uncle Tom was grandmother's favorite." "I mean of his high temper and fine ways, and his quarrels with his eldest brother Launcelot." "Oh! What did they quarrel about ?" "A good many things; among the rest, about the Latriggs.

There was more than one pretty girl at Up-Hill then, and the young men all knew it.

Tom and his mother were always finger and thumb.