He had great influence among the young men of the village, being the leader in all the excursions and parties of pleasure which were formed among them.

Anne Sophia knew very well that Mr.Gordon liked to see young ladies handsomely dressed when they appeared in public, and partly to please him, and partly to gratify that very proper feeling of pleasure which all young ladies have in appearing well, she spent a large part of earnings in dress.

She was not particularly extravagant, nor did she get into debt; but she did not, like Mary Erskine, attempt to lay up any of her wages.

She often endeavored to persuade Mary Erskine to follow her example.

"It is of no use," said she, "for girls like you and me to try to lay up money.
If we are ever married we shall make our husbands take care of us; and if we are not married we shall not want our savings, for we can always earn what we need as we go along." Mary Erskine had no reply at hand to make to this reasoning, but she was not convinced by it, so she went on pursuing her own course, while Anne Sophia pursued hers.