‘I am glad you damsels should know a little more of Florence,’ said Mrs. Mohun.
‘Yes,’ said Claude, ‘cousins were made to be friends.’
‘In that case one ought to be able to choose them,’ said William.
‘And know them,’ said Emily. ‘We have not seen Florence since she was eleven years old.’
‘Cousin or not,’ said Lilias, ‘Florence can hardly be so much my friend as Alethea.’
‘Right, Lily,’ said William, ‘stand up for old friends against all the cousins in the universe.’
‘Has Alethea a right to be called an old friend?’ said Emily; ‘does three quarters of a year make friendship venerable?’
‘No one can deny that she is a tried friend,’ said Lilias.
‘But pray, good people,’ said Claude, ‘what called forth those vows of eternal constancy? why was my innocent general observation construed into an attack upon Miss Weston?’
‘Because there is something invidious in your tone,’ said Lily.