"We are kind to her," the Misses Osborne said, a pair of fine black-browed young ladies who had had the best of governesses, masters, and milliners; and they treated her with such extreme kindness and condescension, and patronised her so insufferably, that the poor little thing was in fact perfectly dumb in their presence, and to all outward appearance as stupid as they thought her.

She made efforts to like them, as in duty bound, and as sisters of her future husband.

She passed "long mornings" with them--the most dreary and serious of forenoons.

She drove out solemnly in their great family coach with them, and Miss Wirt their governess, that raw-boned Vestal.

They took her to the ancient concerts by way of a treat, and to the oratorio, and to St.Paul's to see the charity children, where in such terror was she of her friends, she almost did not dare be affected by the hymn the children sang.