"Had you any favourites?" asked Helen.
"Oh, that was a secret," replied Mrs. Palmer, with an air of ministerial reserve; "I was very careful never to show any preferences, but I do not mean to say but what I had them—human nature is human nature—and there are some girls," with an affectionate glance at the circle round her, "that are so very engaging."
"They must have loved you very dearly," exclaimed Helen.
"I am sure I loved them," replied their hostess; "every body talked of my good-luck, when Mr. Palmer, whose three daughters had been finished, came down to pay my Christmas bills, and married me during the holydays—a kind, good man he has always been; and we never have had a word but once, when Caroline said, before his face, that she would not be ruled by a school-mistress and a stepmother; and he was very angry with her. Poor dear! he did not consider that a young head never means half that it says. She left the room, and he said that it was no use taking any one's part who would not take her own."
"I am sure Mrs. Gooch is very fond of you now," interrupted Helen.
"I found her crying when I went to look for her," replied Mrs. Palmer, "and we never had another quarrel. But, my dears, young people are very hasty. Caroline never stopped to think that it was a great comfort to me to marry her father. We had known
