Never was the love of sisters greater or more beautiful than that which knit the innocent hearts of those two girls together.

Their affections, in short, were so dependent upon each other that separation and absence became a source of anxiety and uneasiness to each.

Neither of them had a sister, and in the fervor of their attachment, they entered into a solemn engagement that each of them should consider herself the sister of the other.

This innocent experiment of the heart--for such we must consider it in these two sisterless girls--was at least rewarded by complete success.

A new affinity was superadded to friendship, and the force of imagination completed what the heart begun.
Next to Agnes was Alice Goodwin awarded a place in Mr.Hamilton's heart.