Then, Caroline was clever, entertaining, cordial, with all that superficial superiority that a girl of twenty-three who knows London readily exercises over a country girl of seventeen.

On the other hand, Caroline was kind and affectionate towards her.

The clergyman's daughter felt that she could not be always superior, even in fashion, to the wealthy heiress.
One evening, as Mrs.Leslie and Mrs.Merton sat under the veranda of the cottage, without their hostess, who had gone alone into the village, and the young ladies were confidentially conversing on the lawn, Mrs.
Leslie said rather abruptly, "Is not Evelyn a delightful creature?
How unconscious of her beauty; how simple, and yet so naturally gifted!" "I have never seen one who interested me more," said Mrs.Merton, settling her _pelerine_; "she is extremely pretty." "I am so anxious about her," resumed Mrs.Leslie, thoughtfully.

"You know the wish of the late Lord Vargrave that she should marry his nephew, the present lord, when she reaches the age of eighteen.

She only wants nine or ten months of that time; she has seen nothing of the world: she is not fit to decide for herself; and Lady Vargrave, the best of human creatures, is still herself almost too inexperienced in the world to be a guide for one so young placed in such peculiar circumstances, and of prospects so brilliant.