Their aunt loved them with a sincere and equal affection, and took
the greatest pleasure imaginable in their education, and
particularly to encourage that love and friendship which she with
pleasure perceived between them. Amanda being (as was said) very
rich, and having no other relations, it was supposed that these
her nieces would be very great fortunes; and as soon as they
became women, they were addressed by all the men of fortune and no
fortune round the neighbourhood. But as the love of admiration,
and a desire of a large train of admirers, had no place in their
minds, they soon dismissed, in the most civil and obliging manner,
one after another, all these lovers.

The refusing such numbers of men, and some such as by the world
were called good offers, soon got them the name of jilts; and by
that means they were freed from any farther importunity, and for
some years enjoyed that peace and quiet they had long wished.
Their aunt, from being their mother and their guardian, was now
become their friend. For, as she endeavoured not in the least to
force their inclinations, they never kept anything concealed from
her; and every action of their lives was still guided by her
advice and approbation.

They lived on in this way, perfectly happy in their own little
community, till they were about two-and-twenty years old when
there happened to be a regiment quartered in the neighbouring
town, to which their house was nearly situated; and the
lieutenant-colonel, a man about four-and-thirty years old, hearing
their names, had a great desire to see them. For when he was a
boy of sixteen, he was put into the Army under the care of Chloe's