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308 Anne. "Considering all the unfortunate family circumstances connected with this girl, I think a far better plan would be to enter into correspondence with her, and discover through her letters if she is amiable and affectionate. You can invite her by-and-by, if you think it advisable. I certainly do not augur well of her character from her parentage. Lady Eveline, I grieve to say, was far from truthful, and this Mr. Staunton was a very questionable person. My dear Anthony, you may be disappointed and deceived."

"My dear aunt," said Anthony, in determination with the opposition he met with, "do you not see that it is of the greatest consequence that my sister should be taken away from the undoubtedly vulgar people with whom she is living? At her age she cannot yet have imbibed much mischief; but every month's delay is dangerous now. You speak of conducting a correspondence with Australia, as if it were with London; you have no idea of the time it takes to send letters half round the world. The girl would be old and past improvement before we could hope to know her character in that way. No, my ﬁrst plan is the best and the wisest, and as it is at my expense that she will be brought and as she will look to me solely for her comfort and happiness, for I ask neither you nor Edith to do