d：　Mary；　in　a　few　words；　kindly　and　calmly　expressed　the　pleasure　she　felt　in　seeing　me　well　enough　to　be　able　to　e　down；　Diana　took　my　hand：　she　shook　her　head　at　me。

“You　should　have　waited　for　my　leave　to　descend；”　she　said。　“You　still　look　very　pale—and　so　thin！　Poor　child！—poor　girl！”

Diana　had　a　voice　toned；　to　my　ear；　like　the　cooing　of　a　dove。　She　possessed　eyes　whose　gaze　I　delighted　to　encounter。　Her　whole　face　seemed　to　me　fill　of　charm。　Mary’s　countenance　was　equally　intelligent—her　features　equally　pretty；　but　her　expression　was　more　reserved；　and　her　manners；　though　gentle；　more　distant。　Diana　looked　and　spoke　with　a　certain　authority：　she　had　a　will；　evidently。　It　was　my　nature　to　feel　pleasure　in　yielding　to　an　authority　supported　like　hers；　and　to　bend；　where　my　conscience　and　self…respect　permitted；　to　an　active　will。

“And　what　business　have　you　here？”　she　continued。　“It　is　not　your　place。　Mary　and　I　sit　in　the　kitchen　sometimes；　because　at　home　we　like　to　be　free；　even　to　license—but　you　are　a　visitor；　and　must　go　into　the　parlour。”

“I　am　very　well　here。”

“Not　at　all；　with　Hannah　bustling　about　and　covering　you　with　flour。”

“Besides；　the　fire　is　too　hot　for　you；”　interposed　Mary。

“To　be　sure；”　added　her　sister。　“e；　you　must　be　obedient。”　And　still　holding　my　hand　she　made　me　rise；　and　led　me　into　the　inner　room。

“Sit　there；”　she　said；　placing　me　on　the　sofa；　“while　we　take　our　things　off　and　get　the　te