"Was Preston there then?"
"He was entering upon his last year at the Academy."
"Had he improved?"
"Papa. - I thought he had not."
My father smiled. "Which of these young friends of ours do you like the best, Daisy?"
"Mr. Marshall and Mr. De Saussure, do you mean?"
"I mean them."
Something in papa's tone made my answer, I was conscious, a little constrained. I was very sorry, and could not help it.
"Papa - I think - Don't you think, Mr. Marshall has the most principle?"
"Do you always like people best that are the best, Daisy?" said papa laughing. "Because, I confess I have a wicked perverseness to do the other way."