The Clever Woman of the Family

"And then comes my question again, Is good to come of it?"

"That I can't expect you to see at this time; but it is to be the

beginning of a series, exposing the fallacies of woman's life as at

present conducted; and out of these I mean to point the way to more

consistent, more independent, better combined exertion. If I can make

myself useful with my pen, it will compensate for the being debarred

from so many more obvious outlets. I should like to have as much

influence over people's minds as that Invalid for instance, and by

earnest effort I know I shall attain it."

"I--I--" half-laughing and blushing, "I hope you will, for I know you

would wish to use it for good; but, to speak plainly, I doubt about the

success of this effort, or--or if it ought to succeed."

"Yes, I know you do," said Rachel. "No one ever can judge of a

manuscript. You have done all I wished you to do, and I value your

sincerity. Of course I did not expect praise, since the more telling

it is on the opposite side, the less you could like it. I saw you

appreciated it."

And Rachel departed, while Rose crept up to her aunt, asking, "Aunt

Ermine, why do you look so very funny? It was very tiresome. Are not you

glad it is over?"

"I was thinking, Rose, what a difficult language plain English is

sometimes."

"What, Miss Rachel's? I couldn't understand one bit of her long story,

except that she did not like weak tea."

"It was my own that I meant," said Ermine. "But, Rose, always remember

that a person who stands plain speaking from one like me has something

very noble and generous in her. Were you here all the time, Rosie? I

don't wonder you were tired."

"No, Aunt Ermine, I went and told Violetta and Augustus a fairy tale out

of my own head."

"Indeed; and how did they like it?"

"Violetta looked at me all the time, and Augustus gave three winks, so I

think he liked it."

"Appreciated it!" said Aunt Ermine.