Page:Traits and Trials.pdf/73

Rh complete variance with all his notion of feminine delicacy. He instantly became alarmed as to what they would be as they grew up, and two loud, awkward, vulgar looking, girls rose to his mind's eye. "You are right, my dear," exclaimed he, after a pause, "Eda is a faithful and affectionate creature, but certainly quite unfit to educate my daughters; something must be done, suppose we have a governess."

"Your plan," returned Mrs. Dalton, "would be excellent, were the acquisition of accomplishments all we had in view: but I fear the first object must be to break the dear children of many, I must say, the very many, bad habits in which they have been indulged."

"Send them to school," said her husband.

"I have thought of that myself, but am not altogether satisfied with the plan; are you at leisure to hear a little idea of my own?" Mr. Dalton knew by experience these 'little ideas' took up a considerable time in developing, and thehe [sic] usually listened in abstraction rather than