out for a short walk, or for an hour's repose; and she soon learnt to arm herself with his name, in such a manner as to secure Lady Anne's consent. Indeed, it is only justice to say, she desired much to insure Helen's health, considering it as the means of preserving her beauty, without which she had no chance of marrying her—one daughter, she thought, it would really be desirable to retain, for they certainly could wait upon her better than the nurse (who had fairly yawned in her face repeatedly, and never hesitated to say, "she knew her duty, and was not to be told what to do by a patient"); but, then, Mary would unquestionably be at leisure for all useful purposes, and why keep two of them?—"Not that a daughter cost much—she must say servants cost more, a great deal; the nurse would ruin her in green tea, to keep her awake, and brandy to compose her nerves. Nevertheless, she must be kept, since the girls could never compel me to take the nauseous medicines, and unquestionably they are necessary."
In about a fortnight Lady Anne's throat was nearly well, but much general pain remained in her limbs, and she was more sensible of it than she had been before, and the confinement was more irksome. She could be taken out of bed, and sit up for a couple of hours, and this period she usually spent in bemoaning her sufferings and reproaching her daughters as the cause of them.
"It is entirely owing to you two making such a
