I must preface this story with the fact that the lady loved her sister.

Make no mistake, she loved her very much.

But just lately she had taken to being very jealous of the younger woman. After all, she was several years older, and already the younger had secured a comfortable teaching position at a prestigious estate. She waved the letter confirming her employment in the air and twirled around, laughing and singing to the older sister and their mother. She took their mother by the hands and the woman in the rocking chair laughed, heaping praise on the younger woman.

She was ashamed of herself, but still she was very jealous.

Much to her surprise, however, it wouldn’t be more than a fortnight before she herself would receive a similar letter, this time from the sister she so envied. It read that she was very happy in her new home, and had mentioned to the mistress of the house that her elder sister also was looking for a position. The mistress generously insisted that she write immediately and tell her to come at once, as the estate was very large and they were always looking for help, seeing as the home was so far out into the countryside and inconvenient for many local workers.

All of her jealousy turned to gratitude as she too waved the letter around and kissed her mother happily. She packed her few belongings quickly and before the week was over she herself was in a carriage, on her way to