"To answer this was trenching upon too dangerous ground, so there was a pause.
'Is the young lady a Scotchwoman, papa?'
'Yes,—' dryly enough.
'Has she much of the accent, sir?'
'Of the devil!' answered my father hastily; 'do you think I care about a's and aa's and i's and ee's—I tell you, Julia, I am serious in the matter. You have a genius for friendship, that is, far running up intimacies which you call such–(was not this very harshly said, Matilda?)—Now I wish to give you an opportunity at least to make one deserving friend, and therefore I have resolved that this young lady shall be a member of my family for some months, and I expect you will pay to her that attention which is due to misfortune and virtue.'
'Certainly, sir—is my future friend red-haired?'
"He gave me one of his stern glances;
