‘Oh! do not say so, my dear Lizzie,’ cried Anne; ‘I cannot bear it.’

‘Indeed, Anne,’ said Elizabeth, ’I did not mean to say anything which could shock you.  I only touched upon what you must have known half your life, and what Mrs. Hazleby has taken good care that I should not forget.  I am perfectly well now, and have nothing the matter with me; but then I know that a little illness has a great effect upon me, and my colds are much sooner caught than cured.’

Before Anne could answer, there was a knock at the door, and Lady Merton’s maid appeared, ready to dress her young lady for the evening; and thus the conversation ended.

The girls were to drink tea in the inner drawing-room, as soon as the company were gone into the dining-room; and Anne and Elizabeth waited to come down-stairs till dinner had begun.

As soon as they entered the room, Harriet began to admire the lace trimming of Anne’s dress, asking many questions about it, to all of which Anne replied with great good nature.  As soon as the lace had been sufficiently discussed, Harriet turned round to Elizabeth, exclaiming, ’Why, Lizzie, why in the world have you taken to that fashion of doing your hair? it makes you look thinner than ever.  Such dark hair too! it wants a little colour to relieve it; why do you not wear a red band in it, like mine?’

‘I thought this way of wearing it saved time,’ said Elizabeth; ’but I believe I shall curl it again.’

’Indeed I hope you will; you have no notion how thin it makes you look,’ said Harriet.

‘Of course I must look thin if I am thin,’ said Elizabeth, a good deal annoyed by Harriet’s pertinacity.

‘Thin you are, indeed,’ continued Harriet, taking hold of her wrist.  Elizabeth drew back hastily, and Harriet relinquished it; conscious perhaps, that however thin the arm might look, her own broad ruddy hand would hardly bear a comparison with Elizabeth’s long slender white fingers, and returned to the subject of the hair, shaking her profusion of ringlets.

’And straight hair is all the fashion now, but I think it gives a terrible dowdy look.  Only that does not signify when you are not out.—­By-the-bye, Miss Merton, are you out?’

‘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?’