26 THE OSBORNES AND

nature could be; and they were not very far from
the mark, for better people than they, making allow-
ance for some little intermixture of human weakness,
could hardly be found. They had been fast, life.
long friends of the Kendricks; and not a week
passed without their spending an evening together.
It was no wonder, therefore, that Joanna was sur-
prised that for the last three or four days they
had heard nothing of them. Joanna resolved to go
to them when it was dusk; but as it is not yet
dusk, we shall find the interval very convenient for
making the reader acquainted with some farther
particulars regarding them, which it is very import-
ant for him to know.

Mr. and Mrs. Osborne were now somewhat past
middle life, and had been married nearly thirty years.
At the time of her marriage, there was a young
sister, the daughter of her father by a second mar-
riage, dependent upon her. The mother died in
giving birth to this child, who, however, never felt
her loss in the love and care of her elder sister. The
father died when she was about ten years old; and
soon afterwards the elder sister married ; and in her
Lusband the child found a second father. She grew
up gentle and beautiful ; and the love of this affec-
tionate pair was lavished upon her. Never was girl
more tenderly nurtured, more beloved, or more in-
dulged. She had all her heart could wish ; and she
appeared to deserve it.

The Osbornes, though tradespeople, were well to
do, and the young lady was admitted to the best
society of the place; and as she advanced towards
womanhood, had the chance of making several ad-
vantageous matches. For some time she appeared