12 THE SILVER LAKE STORIES.

“ Step-mothers are not kind, are they,
Aunty ?”

“That is a question which cannot
be answered in so general a way, my
dear. There have been unkind step-
mothers, I admit, but then there have
been unkind fathers arid mothers too;
and cross uncles and aunts. Old Mrs.
Steele is very cruel to her poor little
niece Maggy, but would you say that
all aunts are cruel and unkind ?”

“Oh no, aunty, dear aunty! you are
always good and kind.”

“Well, dear children, it is no more
right for you to say that step-mothers
are always unkind, than it is to say