Elsies Girlhood | Page 3

Mr. Dinsmore looked excessively annoyed, and Edward "pshawed, and
wished her at the bottom of the sea."
"No, brother," said Rose, smiling, "you don't wish any such thing; on
the contrary, you would be the very first to fly to the rescue if you saw

her in danger of drowning."
But before there was time for anything more to be said Miss Stevens
had returned, and walking straight up to Mr. Dinsmore, she put her arm
through his, saying with a little laugh, and what was meant for a very
arch expression, "You see I don't stand upon ceremony with old friends,
Mr. Dinsmore. It isn't my way."
"No, Miss Stevens, I think it never was," he replied, offering the other
arm to Rose.
She was going to decline it on the plea that the path was too narrow for
three, but something in his look made her change her mind and accept;
and they moved on, while Elsie, almost ready to cry with vexation, fell
behind with Edward Allison for an escort.
Edward tried to entertain his young companion, but was too much
provoked at the turn things had taken to make himself very agreeable to
any one; and altogether it was quite an uncomfortable walk: no one
seeming to enjoy it but Miss Stevens, who laughed and talked
incessantly; addressing nearly all her conversation to Mr. Dinsmore, he
answering her with studied politeness, but nothing more.
Miss Stevens had, from the first, conceived a great antipathy to Rose,
whom she considered a dangerous rival, and generally avoided,
excepting when Mr. Dinsmore was with her; but she always interrupted
a tête-à-tête between them when it was in her power to do so without
being guilty of very great rudeness. This, and the covert sneers with
which she often addressed Miss Allison had not escaped Mr.
Dinsmore's notice, and it frequently cost him quite an effort to treat
Miss Stevens with the respectful politeness which he considered due to
her sex and to the daughter of his father's old friend.
"Was it not too provoking, papa?" exclaimed Elsie, as she followed him
into his room on their return from their walk.
"What, my dear?"

"Why, papa, I thought we were going to have such a nice time, and she
just spoiled it all."
"She? who, daughter?"
"Why, papa, surely you know I mean Miss Stevens!"
"Then why did you not mention her name, instead of speaking of her as
she? That does not sound respectful in a child of your age, and I wish
my little girl always to be respectful to those older than herself. I
thought I heard you the other day mention some gentleman's name
without the prefix of Mr., and I intended to reprove you for it at the
time. Don't do it again."
"No, sir, I won't," Elsie answered with a blush. "But, papa," she added
the next moment, "Miss Stevens does that constantly."
"That makes no difference, my daughter," he said gravely. "Miss
Stevens is the very last person I would have you take for your model;
the less you resemble her in dress, manners, or anything else, the better.
If you wish to copy any one let it be Miss Allison, for she is a perfect
lady in every respect."
Elsie looked very much pleased. "Yes, indeed, papa," she said, "I
should be glad if I could be just like Miss Rose, she is always kind and
gentle to everybody; even the servants, whom Miss Stevens orders
about so crossly."
"Elsie!"
"What, papa?" she asked, blushing again, for his tone was reproving.
"Come here and sit on my knee; I want to talk to you. I am afraid my
little daughter is growing censorious," he said, with a very grave look
as he drew her to his side. "You forget that we ought not to speak of
other people's faults."
"I will try not to do it any more, papa," she replied, the tears springing

to her eyes; "but you don't know how very annoying Miss Stevens is. I
have been near telling her several times that I did wish she would let
me alone."
"No, daughter, don't do that. You must behave in a lady-like manner
whether she does or not. We must expect annoyances in this world, my
child; and must try to bear them with patience, remembering that God
sends the little trials as well as the great, and that He has commanded
us to 'let patience have her perfect work.' I fear it is a lack of the spirit
of forgiveness that makes it so difficult for us to bear these trifling
vexations with equanimity. And you must remember too, dear, that the
Bible bids us be courteous, and teaches us to treat others as we
ourselves would wish to be treated."