"'Why, no,' she said, 'I couldn't punish a child today for what it did yesterday. He is good and pleasant now, and I couldn't go and pick a quarrel with him.'
"'Oh, never pick a quarrel with him,' I said, 'but keep your word, Lily.'
"She yawned, and called Franky, who came running up.
"'Here, you young rogue,' she began, 'come and feel the rod I promised you yesterday;' so then they got into a regular frolic together, and he finally wrenched it out of her hand and threw it into the fire."
"Yes," said Mrs. Grey, "that's Lily to the life. But she might be a hundred, yes, a thousand times worse. I had rather see her inefficient and amiable than ever so energetic, but ill-tempered."
"Of course. But the children won't respect her."
"But they'll love her."
Belle sighed. "Frank was always my favorite brother," she said, "and when he became engaged to Lily, I thought him such a lucky fellow; she was so pretty and so sweet, and seemed so fond of him. But those children. She can do nothing with them."
"Well, Frank makes them obey him."
"But he is able to be with them so little. And you must own, mamma, that it is the mother who moulds the child."