This painful preparation went on year after year, but her advance towards her expected goal was very slow.  She would occasionally nerve herself to speak a few words of admonition in a small meeting, make a short prayer, or quote a text of scripture, but her services were limited to these efforts.  She often feared that she was restrained by her desire that her first attempt at exhorting should be a brilliant success, and place her at once where she would be a power in the meetings; and she prayed constantly for a clear manifestation, something she could not mistake, that she might not be tempted by the hope of relief from present suffering to move prematurely in the “awful work.”

Thus she waited, trying to restrain and satisfy her impatient yearnings for some real, living work by teaching charity schools, visiting prisons, and going through the duties of monthly, quarterly, and yearly meetings.  But she could not shut out from herself the doubts that would force themselves forward, that her time was not employed as it should be.

We hear nothing of her family during these years, nothing to indicate any change in their condition or in their feelings.  We know, however, that Sarah kept up a frequent correspondence with her mother and with Angelina, and that chiefly through her admonitions the latter was turned from her worldly life to more serious concerns.

Like Sarah, Angelina grew up a gay, fashionable girl.  Her personal beauty and qualities of mind and heart challenged the admiration of all who came in contact with her.  More brilliant than Sarah, she was also more self-reliant, and, though quite as sympathetic and sensitive, she was neither so demonstrative nor so tender in her feelings as her elder sister, and her manner being more dignified and positive, she inspired, even in those nearest to her, a certain degree of awe which forbade, perhaps, the fulness of confidence which Sarah’s greater gentleness always invited.  Her frankness and scrupulous conscientiousness were equal to Sarah’s, but she always preserved her individuality and her right to think for herself.  Once convinced, she could maintain her opinion against all arguments and persuasions, no matter from whom.  As an illustration of this, it is related of her that when she was about thirteen years of age the bishop of the diocese called to talk to her about being confirmed.  She had, of course, been baptized when an infant, and he told her she was now old enough to take upon herself the vows then made for her.  She asked the meaning of confirmation, and was referred to the prayer-book.  After reading the rite over, she said:—­

“I cannot be confirmed, for I cannot promise what is here required.”

The bishop urged that it was a form which all went through who had been baptized in the Church, and expected to remain in it.  Looking him calmly in the face, she said, in a tone whose decision could not be questioned:—­