"Oh! there are men and women enough, I dare say,"
cried Julia; "and the family is large--eleven in the
whole; but they must feel the want of friends in
such a retired place."

"What, with six sisters!" said Katherine, laughing
and shaking her head.

"There is a difference between a sister end a friend,
you know," said Julia, a little surprised.

"I--indeed I have yet to learn that," exclaimed the
other, in a little more astonishment.

"Why you feel affection for your sisters from nature
and habit; but friendship is voluntary, spontaneous,
and a much stronger feeling--friendship is a
sentiment."

"And cannot one feel this sentiment, as you call it,
for a sister?" asked Katherine, smiling.

"I should think not," returned Julia, musing; "I
never had a sister; but it appears to me that the
very familiarity of sisters would be destructive to
friendship."

"Why I thought it was the confidence--the
familiarity--the secrets--which form the very
essence of friendship." cried Katherine; "at least so