looked had but narrow experience of life. Alice and Virginia sighed
over the contrast with bygone hopes, but their own careers made it
seem probable that Monica would be better off 'in business' than in
a more strictly genteel position. And there was every likelihood
that, at such a place as Weston, with her sister for occasional
chaperon, she would ere long find herself relieved of the necessity
of working for a livelihood.

To the others, no wooer had yet presented himself. Alice, if she had
ever dreamt of marriage, must by now have resigned prettiness, her
health damaged by attendance upon an exacting herself to
spinsterhood. Virginia could scarce hope that her faded invalid and
in profitless study when she ought to have been sleeping, would
attract any man in search of a wife. Poor Isabel was so extremely
plain. Monica, if her promise were fulfilled, would be by far the
best looking, as well as the sprightliest, of the family. She must
marry; of course she must marry! Her sisters gladdened in the
thought.

Isabel was soon worked into illness. Brain trouble came on,
resulting in melancholia. A charitable institution ultimately
received her, and there, at two-and-twenty, the poor hard-featured
girl drowned herself in a bath.

Their numbers had thus been reduced by half. Up to now, the income
of their eight hundred pounds had served, impartially, the ends now
of this, now of that one, doing a little good to all, saving them
from many an hour of bitterness which must else have been added to
their lot. By a new arrangement, the capital was at length made over
to Alice and Virginia jointly, the youngest sister having a claim