"What girl of eighteen, who is not positively ugly, has not?" returned Sophy, evasively.
"But, one whom you prefer to all others?"
"I have never yet seen that fortunate individual."
"And is there no one for whom you feel any particular liking?"
"None, I assure you."
"Good," said Noah, musingly. "Have you a father?"
"He was drowned in a heavy gale, during the fishing season, some years ago."
"A mother?"
"Yes; but she has been bed-ridden with the palsy ever since father died. Grief for his sudden loss brought it on. There are no hopes of her ever regaining the use of her limbs now."
"Any brothers or sisters?"