'The deeds we do, the words we say,
Into still air they seem to fleet;
We count them past,
But they shall last.'

Soon after Easter, Claude went to Oxford. He was much missed by his
sisters, who wanted him to carve for them at luncheon, to escort them
when they rode or walked, to hear their music, talk over their books,
advise respecting their drawings, and criticise Lily's verses. A new
subject of interest was, however, arising for them in the neighbours
who were shortly expected to arrive at Broom Hill, a house which had
lately been built in a hamlet about a mile and a half from the New
Court.

These new comers were the family of a barrister of the name of
Weston, who had taken the house for the sake of his wife, her health
having been much injured by her grief at the loss of two daughters in
the scarlet fever. Two still remained, a grown-up young lady, and a
girl of eleven years old, and the Miss Mohuns learnt with great
delight that they should have near neighbours of their own age. They
had never had any young companions as young ladies were scarce among
their acquaintance, and they had not seen their cousin, Lady Florence
Devereux, since they were children.

It was with great satisfaction that Emily and Lilias set out with
their father to make the first visit, and they augured well from
their first sight of Mrs. Weston and her daughters. Mrs. Weston was
alone, her daughters being out walking, and Lily spent the greater
part of the visit in silence, though her mind was made up in the
first ten minutes, as she told Emily on leaving the house, 'that Miss