Let us have out the traits of Eliza's character separately, and examine the scope in detail." "To begin with, she has wonderful foresight; her power to plan the work of the house so as to get it done as easily as possible often surprises me.

Now, of what use is this faculty in the kingdom of my step-mother, who always acts on the last impulse, and upsets every one's plans without even observing them?
She has great executive ability, too; but what use is it when, as soon as she gets interested in the accomplishment of something, my mother cries, 'Come, Eliza, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy; go and romp with the children!' Then, too, she has plenty of resource; but of what use is that, when the thing she sees to be best in an emergency is seldom the thing that is done?
The hotel-keeper is more observing than you; he has noticed that Eliza is no ordinary manager, and offered her high wages." "You know, of course, what you are talking about," said Trenholme, feelingly, for he had no doubt that her sympathy with Eliza had arisen out of the pains of her own experience; "but in your house there is surely boundless room for humble, loving service; and how much better this girl would be if she could set aside her cleverness to perform such service." He did not add, "as you have done," but there was that in his voice which implied it.

He went on: "I do not yet allow that you have disproved my statement, for I said that where she was she had scope for her _highest_ faculties." "I suppose it is admitted that the highest faculty of man is worship," remarked Sophia, suggesting that he was not speaking to the point; "but that is no reason why a boy with a head for figures should be made a farmer, or that a young woman with special ability should remain a maid-of-all-work." "And what of the affections--love for children, and for other women better than herself?
A girl who has such privileges as this girl had with you has a far better chance of doing well than in a public hotel, even if that were a safe place for her." Possibly Sophia thought her companion showed too great sensibility concerning Eliza's privileges, for she did not take notice of any but the last part of his sentence.
"It is a safe place for her; for she is able to take care of herself anywhere, if she chooses; and if she doesn't choose, no place is safe.
Besides, you know, the place is a boarding-house really, rather than an hotel." "I am not so surprised at the view _you_ take of it, for you will do more than any one else to supply her place." This, Trenholme's feeling prophecy, was quite true.

Sophia did do more of Eliza's work than any one.

She spared her younger sisters because she wanted them to be happy.
In spite of this, however, Sophia was not so much in need of some one's sympathy as were those younger girls, who had less work to do.