But it was no capricious favouritism, I am sure.

I believe Colonel Buller to have been one of those people whose hearts have depths of tenderness that are never sounded.

The Bush House catastrophe had long ago been swept into the lumber-room of Aunt Theresa's memory, but the tender self-reproach of Matilda's father was still to be seen in all his care and indulgence of her.
"He'll take me anywhere," said Matilda, with affectionate pride.

"He even goes shopping with me." We liked Matilda by far the best of the girls.

Partly, no doubt, because she was our old friend, but partly, I think, because intimacy with her father had developed the qualities she inherited from him, and softened others.
To our great satisfaction we discovered that gores were no enigma to Matilda, and she and Aunt Theresa good-naturedly undertook to initiate us into the mysteries of dressmaking.
There was an excellent opportunity.