`` I confide Betty 's education entirely to you , Stephen , '' she said , with another plaintive sigh . `` I feel sure I could not put it into better hands . You have always been a person who could be thoroughly depended on . '' Well , that was something by way of reward for a life-long devotion . I felt that I was satisfied with my position as unofficial advisor-in-chief to Sara and self-appointed guardian of Betty . I also felt that , for the furtherance of the cause I had taken to heart , it was a good thing that Sara had again refused to marry me . I had a sixth sense which informed me that a staid old family friend might succeed with Betty where a stepfather would have signally failed . Betty 's loyalty to her father 's memory was passionate , and vehement ; she would view his supplanter with resentment and distrust ; but his old familiar comrade was a person to be taken to her heart . Fortunately for the success of my enterprise , Betty liked me . She told me this with the same engaging candor she would have used in informing me that she hated me , if she had happened to take a bias in that direction , saying frankly : `` You are one of the very nicest old folks I know , Stephen . Yes , you are a ripping good fellow ! '' This made my task a comparatively easy one ; I sometimes shudder to think what it might have been if Betty had not thought I was a `` ripping good fellow . '' I should have stuck to it , because that is my way ; but Betty would have made my life a misery to me . She had startling capacities for tormenting people when she chose to exert them ; I certainly should not have liked to be numbered among Betty 's foes . I rode over to Glenby the next morning after my paternal interview with Sara , intending to have a frank talk with Betty and lay the foundations of a good understanding on both sides . Betty was a sharp child , with a disconcerting knack of seeing straight through grindstones ; she would certainly perceive and probably resent any underhanded management . I thought it best to tell her plainly that I was going to look after her . When , however , I encountered Betty , tearing madly down the beech avenue with a couple of dogs , her loosened hair streaming behind her like a banner of independence , and had lifted her , hatless and breathless , up before me on my mare , I found that Sara had saved me the trouble of an explanation . `` Mother says you are going to take charge of my education , Stephen , '' said Betty , as soon as she could speak . `` I 'm glad , because I think that , for an old person , you have a good deal of sense .
I suppose my education has XXXXX be seen to , some time or other , and I 'd rather you 'd do it than anybody else I know . ''
as because behind for like of on through to with