A vision of Betty in a sunbonnet presented itself to my mind , and afforded me so much amusement that I was grateful to Sara for having furnished it . I rewarded her with a compliment . `` It is to be regretted that Betty has not inherited her mother 's charming color , '' I said , `` but we must do the best we can for her under her limitations . She may have improved vastly by the time she has grown up . And , at least , we must make a lady of her ; she is a most alarming tomboy at present , but there is good material to work upon ... there must be , in the Churchill and Currie blend . But even the best material may be spoiled by unwise handling . I think I can promise you that I will not spoil it . I feel that Betty is my vocation ; and I shall set myself up as a rival of Wordsworth 's ` nature , ' of whose methods I have always had a decided distrust , in spite of his insidious verses . '' Sara did not understand me in the least ; but , then , she did not pretend to . `` 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 XXXXX Betty had not thought I was a `` ripping good fellow . ''
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