The best of all reasons for this may have been that they never heard of it.

They lived quietly on alone, interfering with nobody, and going out rarely.

In appearance and manners they were gentlewomen, and rather haughty gentlewomen, too; but they kept no servant.

How their work was done, Deerham could not conceive: it was next to impossible to fancy one of those ladies scrubbing a floor or making a bed.

The butcher called for orders, and took in the meat, which was nearly always mutton-chops; the baker left his bread at the door, and the laundress was admitted inside the passage once a week.
The only other person admitted inside was Dr.West.He had been called in, on their first arrival, to the invalid daughter--a delicate-looking lady, who, when she did walk out, leaned on her sister's arm.