and a girl had been born to them, to whom both father and mother had been over indulgent,—­but the mother, according to her lights, had endeavoured to do her duty by them.  But from the commencement of her life she had been educated in deceit, and her married life had seemed to make the practice of deceit necessary to her.  Her mother had run away from her father, and she had been tossed to and fro between this and that protector, sometimes being in danger of wanting any one to care for her, till she had been made sharp, incredulous, and untrustworthy by the difficulties of her position.  But she was clever, and had picked up an education and good manners amidst the difficulties of her childhood,—­and had been beautiful to look at.

To marry and have the command...