That was a very happy charge to her and her good old governess, with some
drawbacks, indeed, but not such as to distress her over much. The chief
was at first Owen's nightly sorrows, his daily idleness over lessons,
Lucilla's pride, and the exceeding daintiness of both children, which
made their meals a constant vexation and trouble. But what was this
compared with the charm of their dependence on her, and of hearing that
newly-invented pet name, 'Sweet Honey,' invoked in every little concern
that touched them?

It was little Owen's name for her. He was her special favourite--there
was no concealing it. Lucilla did not need her as much, and was of a
vigorous, independent nature, that would stand alone to the utmost. Owen
gave his affection spontaneously; if Lucilla's was won, it must be at
unawares. She was living in and for her absent father now, and had
nothing to spare for any one else, or if she had, Miss Wells, who had the
less claim on her was preferred to Cousin Honor. 'Father' was almost her
religion; though well taught, and unusually forward in religious
knowledge, as far as Honora dared to augur, no motive save her love for
him had a substantive existence, as touching her feelings or ruling her
actions. For him she said her prayers and learnt her hymns; for him she
consented to learn to hem handkerchiefs; for him were those crooked
letters for ever being written; nay, at the thought of his displeasure
alone could her tears be made to flow when she was naughty; and for him
she endeavoured to be less fanciful at dinner, as soon as her mind had
grasped the perception that her not eating what was set before her might
really hinder him from always having her with him. She was fairly
manageable, with very high spirits, and not at all a silly or helpless
child; but though she obeyed Miss Charlecote, it was only as obeying her
father through her, and his constant letters kept up the strong
influence. In her most gracious moods, she was always telling her little
brother histories of what they should do when they got home to father and
Mr. Prendergast; but to Owen, absence made a much greater difference.
Though he still cried at night, his 'Sweet Honey' was what he wanted, and
with her caressing him, he only dreaded her leaving him. He lavished his
pretty endearments upon her, and missed no one when he held her hand or
sat in her lap, stroking her curls, and exchanging a good deal of
fondling. He liked his