Well had she said she was proud; well had her mother wished to humble her, if that could be done.

She had, I believe, a great intellect, and she had much personal beauty of a grand character.

I do not think she thought much about the latter, but she felt her mental powers.

She knew she was fitted to move in a high sphere, and chafed against her fate; still more against the fate of her brother.
I can see her now, on her low seat before the fire, her hands clasping one knee, her dark head thrown back, and her eyes fixed on the dancing shadows above the chimney.
"To think of John settling down as a farmer!" she said; "John, who for cleverness might be prime minister.

And there is no hope of his getting away from it; none whatever." I could not but agree to this, though the thought occurred to me that the farm might not be so pleasant a home if John had to go away and be prime minister.