the younger, to whom this strange invitation was now made, was two years younger than her brother, and was now nearly twenty-six.  How they had lived, and dressed themselves, and had continued to be called ladies by the inhabitants of the village was, and is, and will be a mystery to those who have had the spending of much larger incomes, but have still been always poor.  But they had lived, had gone to church every Sunday in decent apparel, and had kept up friendly relations with the family of the present vicar, and with one or two other neighbours.

When the letter had been read first by the mother, and then aloud, and then by each of them separately, in the little sitting-room in the cottage, there was silence among them for neither of them desired to be the first to express an opinion.  Nothing could be more natural than the proposed arrangement, had it not been made unnatural by a quarrel existing nearly throughout the whole life of the person most nearly concerned.  Priscilla, the elder daughter, was the one of the family who was generally the ruler, and she at last expressed an opinion adverse to the arrangement.  ’My dear, you would never be able to bear it,’ said Priscilla.

‘I suppose not,’ said Mrs Stanbury, plaintively.

‘I could try,’ said Dorothy.

‘My dear, you don’t know that woman,’ said Priscilla.

‘Of course I don’t know her,’ said Dorothy.

‘She has always been very good to Hugh,’ said Mrs Stanbury.

‘I don’t think she has been good to him at all,’ said Priscilla.

‘But think what a saving it would be,’ said Dorothy.  ’And I could send home half of what Aunt Stanbury says she would give me.’

‘You must not think of that,’ said Priscilla, ’because she expects you to be dressed.’

‘I should like to try,’ she said, before the morning was over ’if you and mamma don’t think it would be wrong.’

The conference that day ended in a written request to Aunt Stanbury that a week might be allowed for consideration, the letter being written by Priscilla, but signed with her mother’s name, and with a very long epistle to Hugh, in which each of the ladies took a part, and in which advice and decision were demanded.  It was very evident to Hugh that his mother and Dorothy were for compliance, and that Priscilla was for refusal.  But he never doubted for a moment.  ‘Of course she will go,’ he said in his answer to Priscilla; ’and she must understand that Aunt Stanbury is a most excellent woman, as true as the sun, thoroughly honest, with no fault but this, that she likes her own way.  Of course Dolly can go back again if she finds the house too hard for her.’  Then he sent another five-pound note, observing that Dolly’s journey to Exeter would cost money, and that her wardrobe would want some improvement.

‘I’m very glad that it isn’t me,’ said Priscilla, who, however, did not attempt to oppose the decision of the man of the family.  Dorothy was greatly gratified by the excitement of the proposed change in her life, and the following letter, the product of the wisdom of the family, was written by Mrs Stanbury.