The hereditary instinct is so strongly developed in her that she is almost incapable of thinking for herself.

Instead, she copies in everything her elder sister, who takes more after the mother.

If her sister has two helpings of rice pudding for supper, then she has two helpings of rice pudding.

If her sister isn't hungry and doesn't want any supper at all, then she goes to bed without any supper.
This lack of character in the child troubles her mother, who is not an admirer of the political virtues, and one evening, taking the little one on her lap, she talked seriously to her.
"Do try to think for yourself," said she.

"Don't always do just what Jessie does, that's silly.