her, who had nobody to look to but herself and her
sister; and that at present I must task myself not to
think of that which I had been thinking of before.
She did not mention anybody's name, but of course I
understood very well what she meant; and I suppose she
is right. I said nothing in answer to her, for I
could not speak. She was holding my hand, and I took
hers up and kissed it, to show her, if I could, that I
knew that she was right; but I could not have spoken
about it for all the world. It was not ten days since
that she herself, with all her prudence, told me that
she thought I ought to make up my mind what answer I
would give him. And then I did not say anything; but
of course she knew. And after that Miss Anne spoke
quite freely about it, so that I had to beg her to be
silent even before the girls. You know how imprudent
she is. But it is all over now. Of course Miss
Annabella is right. He has got a great many people to
think of; his father and mother, and his darling
little Edith, whom he brought here twice, and left her
with us once for two days, so that she got to know me
quite well; and I took such a love for her, that I
could not bear to part with her. But I think
sometimes that all our family are born to be
unfortunate, and then I tell myself that I will never
hope for anything again.

'Pray write to me soon. I feel as though
nothing on earth could comfort me, and yet I shall
like to have your letter. Dear, dear Lily, I am not