We stayed on two months longer at Mrs. Thorpe's, for after the Mrs. Leightons left Cullercoats, they went on a round of visits among their acquaintances, and it was not till the first of December that we received letters from Mrs. Deborah, bidding us be in readiness to join herself and sisters, when they should be in Newcastle in a week's time. This was important, and I must say, anything but welcome news. We had fallen into a very pleasant way of living with Mrs. Thorpe, to whom we were much attached. We were getting on finely in our lessons with good Mr. Lilburne, who had wonderfully enlarged our knowledge of the world we lived in, and we were much devoted to the church and to our work in the schools. It was no wonder we dreaded the idea of leaving it all and going once more among strangers. Mrs. Cropsey, who (as my readers—if I have any, may already have discovered) was not the most discreet person in the world, did not make matters any better, by lamenting over our banishment to the wilds of Highbeck Hall. "A wilderness, an absolute wilderness, my dears. No neighbors within a mile or two, and the ladies seeing very little company, and so very peculiar. Why, they say one of them has kept her bed for twenty years, just because of a love disappointment when she was young." "I never heard of that!" said Amabel. "Oh! But my dears, I assure you I had it from excellent authority. I do wonder your respected father should send you into such banishment, instead of establishing you in London, with a suitable lady to matronize you, and masters to carry on your accomplishments." And Mrs. Cropsey, who I fancy, saw in this determination the downfall of certain airy castles of her own, actually shed tears. "I dare say Sir Julius knows best!" said I, feeling myself a good deal disturbed by the near prospect of the change, but determined to make the best of it. "I am sure Mrs. Deborah was very kind to us when she was here." "But she is very peculiar—everybody allows that!" said Mrs. Cropsey. "I dare say Sir Julius has not seen much of his sisters of late years, and an heiress like yourself, Miss Leighton, it does seem a pity." "Mrs. Cropsey!" said Amabel seriously. "My father doubtless has his reasons for disposing of us in this manner. For my own part, I would quite as soon go to Highbeck Hall as to London. At all events, you must see that it is our duty to consent cheerfully to my father's will, whatever it is. Moreover we have the word of One far higher and wiser than Sir Julius himself, 'that all things work together for good to them that love God.' If he sends us to this place, 'tis doubtless because he has something for us to do or to learn there." "Oh! Miss Leighton, there is no talking to you since you have taken up with such a set of Methodistical ideas," said Mrs. Cropsey, somewhat angrily. "For my part I have not so high an idea of myself and my own consequence, as to think that the Almighty concerns himself with all my notions."