well. I believe they are very respectable young women, poor things!
I have always wished that we could do more for them."

"Who?" asked Fanny.

"Certain pets of Mr. Touchett's," said Rachel; "some of the numerous
ladies whose mission is that curatolatry into which Grace would lapse
but for my strenuous efforts."

"I don't quite know why you call them his pets," said Grace, "except
that he knew their antecedents, and told us about them."

"Exactly, that was enough, for me. I perfectly understand the
meaning of Mr. Touchett's recommendations, and if what Fanny wants is
a commonplace sort of upper nursemaid, I dare say it would do." And
Rachel leant back, applied herself to her wood carving, and virtually
retired from the discussion.

"One sister is a great invalid," said Grace, "quite a cripple, and
the other goes out as a daily governess. They are a clergyman's
daughters, and once were very well off, but they lost everything
through some speculation of their brother. I believe he fled the
country under some terrible suspicion of dishonesty; and though no
one thought they had anything to do with it, their friends dropped
them because they would not give him up, nor believe him guilty, and
a little girl of his lives with them."

"Poor things!" exclaimed Lady Temple. "I should very much like to
employ this one. How very sad."