liberal employment had seemed within her reach.  She had no aptitude whatever for giving instruction; indeed, had no aptitude for anything but being a pretty, cheerful, engaging girl, much dependent on the love and gentleness of those about her.  In speech and bearing Monica greatly resembled her mother; that is to say, she had native elegance.  Certainly it might be deemed a pity that such a girl could not be introduced to one of the higher walks of life; but the time had come when she must ‘do something’, and the people to whose guidance she 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 upon them to the extent of an annual nine pounds.  A trifle, but it would buy her clothing—­and then Monica was sure to marry.  Thank Heaven, she was sure to marry!

Without notable event, matrimonial or other, time went on to this present year of 1888.

Late in June, Monica would complete her twenty-first year; the elders, full of affection for the sister, who so notably surpassed them in beauty of person, talked much about her as the time approached, devising how to procure her a little pleasure on her birthday.  Virginia thought a suitable present would be a copy of ‘the Christian Year’.

’She has really no time for continuous reading.  A verse of Keble—­ just one verse at bedtime and in the morning might be strength to the poor girl.’