"I know she must be dutiful; and at the same time wishing to know the whys and wherefores of things, she asks a few questions, I suspect, that she may know something, and have an opinion of her own." "She never did a thing, as I recollect, that caused us an hour's regret; but, as you say, she wishes to know things for herself; and sometimes, when we have been tired and dull, she has wearied us with questions. She has a great mind to acquire knowledge, and have an intelligent opinion; and we ought never to be impatient with her, or refuse an answer." "She may thank father and mother for that disposition, I suspect. How much she looks like her mother! And still she has your forehead, and eyes, _almost_--if I remember right; and I should know she was your daughter, if I met her in France." "Her eyes are much lighter and bluer than mine; but they may resemble them in shape and size. As for her hair--" "I was just a-going to ask where she got that fairy flaxen hair?" "We cannot tell where the color came from, except from our white blood. My hair was light when a boy." "That then accounts for hers." "But never so milk-white as hers." "Hers will grow dark, you may depend; it will be dark as yours when as old. But what if it is not? I should like it all the better as it is; it is handsome _enough_, and it is not so common as brown or black." "But here it is nearly dark, and I have not had the manners to invite you to the house. Come, go in with me, and take a dish of tea." "O Squire, I beg you to excuse me. I have some business at home that I must attend to to-night, and I must go. But that is the way with me, always! When I am in good company, I never know how time flits by, nor where to break off my talk. Come over and see me, Squire! Do come and see me. Good night." And as Fairbanks went for his horse to go home, Fabens ordered his men to quit work, and they all returned to the house in excellent spirits for supper and sleep. Fabens had made it the effort of his life to resist flattery, and preserve a decent self-respect without a vain emotion; but it never grieved him to call him Squire; and there was much in what Fairbanks said and suggested, which he thought evinced uncommon discernment, and a clear and discriminating mind; and he was happy in the belief that it came right up from his heart, warm and sincere. He determined that he would not allow his own heart to take any flattery from what he had heard; yet what was said of Fanny--and her father and mother also!--could not be displeasing, coming as it did from one of an elevated station and mind: and he concluded that it was right for him to be encouraged by the compliments, and congratulated himself on the happiness of such a family and such a friend.