"No one could understand better what is for her interest in all things than yourself.

Not," he said, with hasty and equally hearty loyalty to his old playmate, "that I think she would ever go against your wishes, or do anything that she knows to be wrong, but she is very young and innocent,--as much of a child as ever, don't you think so, Mrs.Peyton ?" It was amusing, yet nevertheless puzzling, to hear this boyish young man comment upon Susy's girlishness.

And Clarence was serious, for he had quite forgotten in Mrs.Peyton's presence the impression of superiority which Susy had lately made upon him.

But Mrs.Peyton returned to the charge, or, rather, to an attack upon what she conceived to be Clarence's old position.
"I suppose she does seem girlish compared to Mary Rogers, who is a much more reserved and quiet nature.

But Mary is very charming, Mr.Brant, and I am really delighted to have her here with Susy.