Page:Romance & Reality 2.pdf/98

96 than to hear him name every Roman emperor from Augustus to Constantine." "I feel convinced that one of Miss Edgeworth's stories for children is worth all the questions and answers that ever made history easy, or geography light." "Do you remember," said Emily, "a little story called the Rival Crusoes? I cannot describe the effect it took on Frank as I was reading it to him: but, if I may venture a remark among you higher authorities, it seems to me it gave him a more touching lesson against overbearing temper, and of affectionate forgiveness, than all the advice in the world could have done." "Her aunt," said Mr. Morland, "has the care of my Helen. My only injunctions were—educate her as little, and keep her a child as long as possible." "And she is one of the sweetest girls I ever saw, because one of the most natural—loving birds, flowers, and fairy tales, with a taste at once so simple and so refined; and, to make my confession, I do not like her the less for being a most lovely creature." "I wonder," exclaimed Emily, "whether she still wears her hair in those beautiful natural ringlets?—they always put me in mind of