"The Last of the Mortimers: A Story in Two Voices" by Mrs. Oliphant is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story follows the lives of two sisters, Milly and Sarah Mortimer, as they grapple with their family's legacy and the looming question of their future heirs. Set against the backdrop of an old, decaying estate, the narrative unfurls the complexities of their relationships and secrets, hinting at themes of duty, identity, and the passage of time. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to the Mortimer sisters in their grand yet fading drawing-room, where they spend their days lamenting their circumstances. The peculiarities of their quiet life come to life through their interactions, particularly an unexpected moment when Sarah suddenly speaks after years of silence. Milly, the younger sister, seems to sense a shift in the air regarding their long-forgotten cousin, Richard Arkwright, prompting reflections on their family history and the urgency of finding an heir to inherit their dwindling estate. As Milly observes her sister's enigmatic behavior and begins to probe deeper into their past, the opening establishes a rich atmosphere filled with tension, familial bonds, and the weight of expectations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)