‘Is he indeed?’ said Mr. Dick.

‘And he’s like David, too,’ said my aunt, decisively.

‘He is very like David!’ said Mr. Dick.

‘But what I want you to be, Trot,’ resumed my aunt, ‘ — I don’t mean physically, but morally; you are very well physically — is, a firm fellow. A fine firm fellow, with a will of your own. With resolution,’ said my aunt, shaking her cap at me, and clenching her hand. ‘With determination. With character, Trot — with strength of character that is not to be influenced, except on good reason, by anybody, or by anything.

That’s what I want you to be. That’s what your father and mother might both have been, Heaven knows, and been the better for it.’