It was aware only that Miss Caroline treated Clem with a despotic severity, issuing commands to him as from a throne of power and in tones of acrid authority that were the envy of all housekeepers among us who kept "hired girls." Even Mrs.Potts, long before the arrival of Miss Caroline, had despaired of teaching Clem to make something of himself.

He had refused to subscribe for a "Compendium," and her cordial assurance that he was, by the law of the land, both a man and a brother, did not even mildly elate him.

Mrs.Potts was soon in a like despair regarding Miss Caroline, whom she regarded as too frivolous ever to make anything of herself.

These two ladies, indeed, were widely apart.

Perhaps I can intimate the extent of their unlikeness by revealing that Mrs.Potts, early in our acquaintance, had observed of me that I was not serious enough; whereas Miss Caroline was presently averring to my face that I was entirely too serious.