We thought at first that the sister mentioned might be the sister of the clerk; but the subsequent mention of a niece seems to prove that the allusion is to one of my aunts.

Then there was a question as to whose the two other sisters were; they are probably two of my late aunt's daughters.

But who's 'quite independent,' and in what sense is the term used ?--that point's not yet settled.

Does the expression apply more particularly to the young lady my mother has adopted, or does it characterise her sisters equally ?--and is it used in a moral or in a financial sense?
Does it mean that they've been left well off, or that they wish to be under no obligations?
or does it simply mean that they're fond of their own way ?" "Whatever else it means, it's pretty sure to mean that," Mr.Touchett remarked.
"You'll see for yourself," said Lord Warburton.

"When does Mrs.Touchett arrive ?" "We're quite in the dark; as soon as she can find a decent cabin.
She may be waiting for it yet; on the other hand she may already have disembarked in England." "In that case she would probably have telegraphed to you." "She never telegraphs when you would expect it--only when you don't," said the old man.