Anne’sparentswereheartlessanddepraved。Theironeidea，inconnectionwiththeirdaughter，wastospeculateonherbeauty，andtoturnherabilitiestoprofitableaccount。
Thegirlswerestartinginlifeunderwidelydifferentconditions。BlanchewasgoingtoIndia，tobegovernessinthehouseholdofaJudge，undercareoftheJudge’swife。AnnewastowaitathomeuntilthefirstopportunityofferedofsendinghercheaplytoMilan。There，amongstrangers，shewastobeperfectedintheactress’sandthesinger’sart；thentoreturntoEngland，andmakethefortuneofherfamilyonthelyricstage。
SuchweretheprospectsofthetwoastheysattogetherinthecabinoftheIndiamanlockedfastineachother’sarms，andcryingbitterly。Thewhisperedfarewelltalkexchangedbetweenthem——exaggeratedandimpulsiveasgirls’talkisapttobe——camehonestly，ineachcase，straightfromtheheart。
“Blanche!youmaybemarriedinIndia。MakeyourhusbandbringyoubacktoEngland。“
“Anne!youmaytakeadisliketothestage。ComeouttoIndiaifyoudo。“