'I shall not be seventeen these three months,' said Anne.

'Well, I am not seventeen yet, nor near it,' pursued Harriet; 'but I
always dine out, and at home too. Don't I, Lucy?'

Elizabeth did not think it necessary to make any apology for
Harriet's not having been asked to dine with the company, since Mrs.
Woodbourne had already settled that matter with Mrs. Hazleby; but
Katharine, who, though younger, had more idea of manner, said, after
a little hesitation, 'Mamma talked of it, but Papa said that if one
dined all must, and there would be too many.'

'Oh, law! Kate,' said Harriet, 'never mind; I do not mind it a bit, I
would just as soon drink tea here, as dine.--You are not out, are
you, Lizzie?'

'If you consider that dining constitutes being out, I generally am,'
said Elizabeth, rather coldly and haughtily.

'Ay, ay,' cried Harriet, laughing, 'you would be out indeed, to go
without your dinner.--Capital, is not it, Kate? but I wanted to know
whether you are regularly come out?'

'I do not know,' replied Elizabeth.

'Oh, then, you are not,' said Harriet; 'everyone knows who is out:
I should not have been out now, if it had not been for Frank Hollis,
(he is senior lieutenant at last, you know)--well, when our officers
gave the grand ball at Hull, Frank Hollis came to Mamma, and said
they could do nothing without the Major's daughter, and I must open