er," said Fred; "but it never
answers to try to make him propose anything to her. He never will do it;
he always says he is not the Pope, or something to that effect."

"If I was not fully convinced that it was right, and the best for all
parties, I would not say so much about it," said Henrietta, in a tone
rather as if she was preparing for some great sacrifice, instead of
domineering over her mother.

To domineering, her temptation was certainly great. With all her good
sense and ability, Mrs. Langford had seldom been called upon to decide
for herself, but had always relied upon her mother for counsel; and
during her long and gradual decline had learnt to depend upon her
brother-in-law, Mr. Geoffrey Langford, for direction in great affairs,
and in lesser ones upon her children. Girls are generally older of their
age than boys, and Henrietta, a clever girl and her mother's constant
companion, occupied a position in the family which amounted to something
more than prime minister. Some one person must always be leader, and
thus she had gradually attained, or had greatness thrust upon her; for
justice requires it to be stated, that she more frequently tried to know
her mamma's mind for her, than to carry her own point, though perhaps to
do so always was more than could be expected of human nature at sixteen.
The habit of being called on to settle whether they should use the
britska or the pony carriage, whether satin or silk was best, or this or
that book should be ordered, was, however, sufficient to make her very
unwilling to be thwarted in other matters of more importance, especially
in one on which were fixed the most ardent hopes of her brother, and the
wishes of all the family.

Their present abode was, as she often said to herself, not the one best
calculated for the holiday sports of a boy of sixteen, yet Frederick,
having been used to nothing else, was very happy, and had tastes formed
on their way of life. The twins, as little children, had always had the
same occupations, Henrietta learning Latin, marbles, and trap-ball, and
Frederick playing with dolls and working cross-stitch; and even now the
custom was so far continued, that he gave lessons in Homer and Euclid
for those which he received in Italian and music. For present amusement
there was no reason to complain; the neighbourhood supplied many
beautiful walks, while longer expeditions were made with Mrs. Langford
in the pony carriage, and sketching, bota