They were aunt and niece; the former a tall, ungainly, sharp-featured widow; the later a sweet-faced, gentle, sensible-looking girl of five-and-twenty.
'I am so glad you are back again,' exclaimed the widow, as she shook hands with Miss Barfoot, speaking in a hard, unsympathetic voice.

'I do so want to ask your advice about an interesting girl who has applied to me.

I'm afraid her past won't bear looking into, but most certainly she is a reformed character.

Winifred is most favourably impressed with her--' Miss Haven, the Winifred in question, began to talk apart with Rhoda Nunn.
'I do wish my aunt wouldn't exaggerate so,' she said in a subdued voice, whilst Mrs.Smallbrook still talked loudly and urgently.

'I never said that I was favourably impressed.