"It was a rusty implement, and you tried weight instead of edge. Now it

is infinitely brighter."

"But, Alick," she said, leaving the thought of herself for that of her

child, "I believe you may be right about Una, for," she added in low

voice, "she is like the most practically clever person I ever saw."

"True," he answered gravely, "I see it every day, in every saucy gesture

and coaxing smile, when she tries to turn away displeasure in her

naughty fits. I hardly knew how to look on at her airs with Keith,

it was so exactly like the little sister I first knew. Rachel, such

cleverness as that is a far more perilous gift to woman than your

plodding intellectuality could ever be. God grant," he added, with

one of the effusions which sometimes broke through his phlegmatic

temperament, "that this little fellow may be a kinder, wiser brother

than ever I was, and that we may bring her up to your own truth and

unselfishness. Then such power would be a happy endowment."

"Yes," said Rachel, "may she never be out of your influence, or be left

to untrustworthy hands. I should have been much better if I had had

either father or brother to keep me in order. Poor child, she has a

wonderful charm, not all my fancy, Alick. And yet there is one whose

real working talent has been more than that of any of us, who has made

it effective for herself and others, and has let it do her only good,

not harm."

"You are right. If we are to show Una how intellect and brilliant power

can be no snares, but only blessings helping the spirits in infirmity

and trouble, serving as a real engine for independence and usefulness,

winning love and influence for good, genuine talents in the highest

sense of the word, then commend me to such a Clever Woman of the family

as Ermine Keith."



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