BY

THE AUTHOR OF

"MARGARET AND HER BRIDESMAIDS,”

"THE VALLEY OF A HUNDRED FIRES,”

&c. &c.

Stretton

"Out of God's choicest treasury we bring down
New virtue to sustain all ill-new power
To braid life's thorns into a regal crown.
We pass'd into the outer world to prove
The strength miraculous of Sisters' Love."

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS,
SUCCESSORS TO HENRY COLBURN,

13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.

1862.

The right of Translation is reserved.

I DEDICATE THIS TALE TO

MY DEAR AUNT,

UNDER WHOSE ROOF I LEARNT TO APPRECIATE

THE HAPPINESS OF ORDER,

TO TASTE

THE PLEASURES OF LITERATURE,

AND

TO WORSHIP

THE WONDERFUL CHARMS OF NATURE.

THE LADIES OF LOVEL-LEIGH.

CHAPTER I.

"What is life worth without a heart to feel
The great and lovely—and the poetry
And sacredness of things?"

BAILEY.

THIS was the picture of our home. We sat (three sisters) in the withdrawing room, so styled in our ancient house, where change was unknown but in ourselves, growing up all too quickly into womanhood.

The room was coved and lofty, and, entered by a small door, deceived the eye, deluding it into giving this enclosed space a greater

VOL. I.

B