‘What on earth are we to do with them?’ said Sophia, the eldest Miss Longestaffe, to her mother.

‘I do think it’s a shame of papa,’ said Georgiana, the second daughter.  ‘I certainly shan’t trouble myself to entertain them.’

‘Of course you will leave them all on my hands,’ said Lady Pomona wearily.

‘But what’s the use of having them?’ urged Sophia.  ’I can understand going to a crush at their house in town when everybody else goes.  One doesn’t speak to them, and need not know them afterwards.  As to the girl, I’m sure I shouldn’t remember her if I were to see her.’

‘It would be a fine thing if Adolphus would marry her,’ said Lady...