of the same age. They had spent much of their time together in their
childhood, and their early attachment to each other, strengthening as
they grew older, was now becoming something more than girlish
affection. Anne was an only daughter; and Elizabeth, though the
eldest of a large family, had not hitherto found any of her sisters
able to enter into her feelings as fully as her cousin; and perhaps
there was no one who had so just an appreciation of Elizabeth's
character as Anne; who, though hers was of a very different order,
had perhaps more influence over her mind than anyone excepting Mr.
Woodbourne.

Sir Edward Merton was brother to Mr. Woodbourne's first wife, the
mother of Elizabeth, Katherine, and Helen; he had been Mr.
Woodbourne's principal assistant in the erection of the new church,
and indeed had added all the decorations which the Vicar's limited
means, aided by a subscription, could not achieve; and his wife and
daughter had taken nearly as much interest in its progress as the
ardent Elizabeth herself. Anne eagerly read Elizabeth's note to her
mother, and waited her consent to the scheme which it proposed.

'Well, Mamma,' said Anne, 'can you consent to this arrangement, or
are you afraid that Lizzie and I should chatter all night?'

'I hope you have outgrown your old habits of gossipping and idling,'
said Lady Merton; 'I believe I may trust you; and it may be
inconvenient to Mrs. Woodbourne to find room for you elsewhere.'

'I am very much obliged to you, Mamma,' said Anne, at first gravely,
then laughing, 'I mean that I shall enjoy it very much. But pray,
Mamma, do not trust too much to our age and experience, for I do not