as poor spirit was the one element of comfort in their poor dependent
kinswoman's life. They gave her no ill words, they indulged in no
fantastical whims and vapours, and they did not even seem to expect other
entertainment than to walk the country roads, to play with their little
lap-dog Cupid, wind silks for their needlework, and please themselves
with their embroidery-frames.

To them their sister appeared a goddess whom it would be presumptuous to
approach in any frame of mind quite ordinary. Her beauty must be
heightened by rich adornments, while their plain looks were left without
the poorest aid. It seemed but fitting that what there was to spend must
be spent on her. They showed no signs of resentment, and took with
gratitude such cast-off finery as she deigned at times to bestow upon
them, when it was no longer useful to herself. She was too full of the
occupations of pleasure to have had time to notice them, even if her
nature had inclined her to the observance of family affections. It was
their habit, when they knew of her going out in state, to watch her
incoming and outgoing through a peep-hole in a chamber window. Mistress
Margery told them stories of her admirers and of her triumphs, of the
county gentlemen of fortune who had offered themselves to her, and of the
modes of life in town of the handsome Sir John Oxon, who, without doubt,
was of the circle of her admiring attendants, if he had not fallen
totally her victim, as others had.

Of the two young women, it was Mistress Anne who had the more parts, and
the attraction of the mind the least dull. In sooth, Nature had dealt
with both in a niggardly fashion, but Mistress Barbara was the plainer
and the more foolish. Mistress Anne had, perchance, the tenderer
feelings, and was in secret given to a certain sentimentality. She was
thin and stooping, and had but a muddy complexion; her hair was heavy, it