like yourself an only child. I was one
of several, and I was quite the plain one of the family. I am very plain
now, as you perceive; but I had two beautiful little sisters. They were
younger than I, and Florence had quite a beautiful little face, and so
had Janet. Wherever they went they were admired and talked about, and I
was thought nothing of. Then I had three brothers, and they were
good-looking, too, and strong, and had excellent abilities, and people
thought a great deal about them; but no one thought anything about me. I
was the eldest, but I was never counted one way or the other as of the
slightest consequence. My people were quite rich, and Florence and Janet
were beautifully dressed, and taken down to the drawing-room to see
visitors; but I was never noticed at all. I could go if I liked, but it
did not gratify anybody, so by degrees I stayed away. You do not know
what bitter feelings I had in my heart, for they really were undeniably
some of the most attractive children you could possibly find; and
Florence was so witty, and Janet so delicate and refined and sweet in
all her ways! I could not be angry with them, but I did think it
fearfully unfair that so many blessings should be poured on their heads
and so few given to me, for I was not even specially clever.

"Then I thought I would make a friend of my brother Roger. He was a very
fine fellow, and for a time I did get into his confidence, and I was
fairly happy. But he went to Rugby, and at Christmas he brought some of
his school-fellows back with him, and they paid the most absurd
attentions to Florence and Janet, and they snubbed me; and I suppose
Roger, poor dear! was weak enough to be influenced by them, for he took
no notice of me either, so you can just imagine what a bad time I had.

"Well, my dear, one day there came a letter from an old cousin asking
either of the two girls, Florence or Janet, or myself, to go to stay
with her in the country. She had a very nice house, and a pony and trap,
and she could take us about and give us a good time. My mother was
exceedingly anxious that the twins--I forgot to tell you that they were
twins--should go, and she said so to me. She said they wanted change of
air, as they were looking quite cooped up in our poky town. But I said,
'I am the eldest, and I don't see why I shouldn't have the pleasure of
going, as I also have been invited. I mean it is only fair to give me
the first chance.'

"Then she said,