or two after
the death of my mother, who had left him a widower, and the father of a
little image of herself, before the expiration of a twelvemonth. Owing
to the strength of his affections for the deceased, or for his daughter,
or because he could not please himself in a second marriage as well as
it had been his good fortune to do in the first, Dr. Etherington had
never spoken of forming another connection. He appeared content to
discharge his duties, as a Christian and a gentleman, without increasing
them by creating any new relations with society.

Anna Etherington was of course my constant companion during many
long and delightful visits at the rectory. Three years my junior,
the friendship on my part had commenced by a hundred acts of boyish
kindness. Between the ages of seven and twelve, I dragged her about in
a garden-chair, pushed her on the swing, and wiped her eyes and uttered
words of friendly consolation when any transient cloud obscured the
sunny brightness of her childhood. From twelve to fourteen, I told her
stories; astonished her with narratives of my own exploits at Eton,
and caused her serene blue eyes to open in admiration at the marvels of
London. At fourteen, I began to pick up her pocket-handkerchief, hunt
for her thimble, accompany her in duets, and to read poetry to her,
as she occupied herself with the little lady-like employments of the
needle. About the age of seventeen I began to compare cousin Anna, as
I was permitted to call her, with the other young girls of my
acquaintance, and the comparison was generally much in her favor. It was
also about this time that, as my admiration grew more warm and manifest,
she became less confiding and less frank; I perceived too that, for a
novelty, she now had some secrets that she did not choose to communicate
to me, that she was more with her governess, and less in my society
than formerly, and on one occasion (bitterly did I feel the slight)
she actually recounted to her father the amusing incidents of a little
birthday fete at which she had been present, and which was given by
a gentleman of the vicinity, before she even dropped a hint to me,
touching the delight she had experienced on the occasion. I was,
however, a good deal compensated for the slight by her saying, kindly,
as she ended her playful and humorous account of the affair:

"It would have made you laugh heartily, Jack, to see the droll manner
in which the servants acted their parts" (th