If it were not for her, Lotta, I should have no home.

What a happy girl you are, to have a respectable man for your father!" Charlotte's brow darkened a little as her friend said this.
"He is not my own father, you know," she said gravely, "and I should be a great deal happier if mamma and I were alone in the world.

We could live in some dear little cottage on wide open downs near the sea, and I could have a linsey habit, and a pony, and ride about all day, and read and play to mamma at night.

Of course Mr.Sheldon is very respectable, and I daresay it's very wicked of me; but O, Diana, I think I should like him better if he were not _quite_ so respectable.

I saw your papa once when he came to call, and I thought him nicer than my stepfather.
But then I'm such a frivolous creature, Di, and am always thinking what I ought not to think." * * * * * Nearly a year had passed since Diana's return, and the girl's life had been very monotonous during that time.