andtheoddtwitchingofthelips，whichwaspreliminarytoasmile，whichmadehim。lookintenselymerry—gavethevaryingexpressionsofhisfaceagreaterrange’fromgravetogay，fromlivelytosevere，’thaniscommontomostmen。ToMolly，whowasnotfinelydiscriminativeinherglancesatthestrangerthisfirstnight，hesimplyappeared’heavy—looking，clumsy，’
　　and’apersonshewassuresheshouldnevergetonwith。’Hecertainlydidnotseemtocaremuchwhatimpressionhemadeuponhismother’svisitor。
　　Hewasatthatagewhenyoungmenadmireaformedbeautymorethanafacewithanyamountoffuturecapabilityofloveliness，andwhentheyaremorbidlyconsciousofthedifficultyoffindingsubjectsofconversationintalkingtogirlsinastateoffemininehobbledehoyhood。Besides，histhoughtswerefullofothersubjects，whichhedidnotintendtoallowtooozeoutinwords，yethewantedtopreventanyofthatheavysilencewhichhefearedmightbeimpending—withanangryanddispleasedfather，andatimorousanddistressedmother。HeonlylookeduponMollyasabadly—dressed，andratherawkwardgirl，withblackhairandanintelligentface，whomighthelphiminthetaskhehadsethimselfofkeepingupabrightgeneralconversationduringtherestoftheevening；mighthelphim—ifshewould，butshewouldnot。Shethoughthimunfeelinginhistalkativeness；hisconstantflowofwordsuponindifferentsubjectswasawonderandarepulsiontoher。Howcouldhegoonsocheerfullywhilehismothersatethere，scarcelyeatinganything，anddoingherbest，withillsuccess，toswallowdownthetearsthatwouldkeeprisingtohereyes；whenhisfather’sheavybrowwasdeeplyclouded，andheevidentlycarednothing—atfirstatleast—forallthechatterhissonpouredforth？HadMrRogerHamleynosympathyinhim？Shewouldshowthatshehad，atanyrate。Soshequitedeclinedthepart，whichhehadhopedshewouldhavetaken，ofrespondent，andpossiblequestioner；andhisworkbecamemoreandmorelikethatofamanwalkinginaquagmire。Oncethesquirerousedhimselftospeaktothebutler；hefelttheneedofoutwardstimulus—ofabettervintagethanusual。’BringupabottleoftheBurgundywiththeyellowseal。’Hespokelow；hehadnospirittospeakinhisusualvoice。Thebutleransweredinthesametone。Mollysittingnearthem，andsilentherself，heardwhattheysaid。’Ifyouplease，sir，therearenotabovesixbottlesofthatsealleft；
　　anditisMrOsborne’sfavouritewine。’Thesquireturnedroundwithagrowlinhisvoice。’BringupabottleoftheBurgundywiththeyellowseal，asIsaid。’Thebutlerwentaway，wondering。’MrOsborne’s’likesanddislikeshadbeenthelawofthehouseingeneraluntilnow。Ifhehadlikedanyparticularfoodordrink，anyseatorplace，anyspecialdegreeofwarmthorcoolness，hiswishesweretobeattendedto；forhewastheheir，andhewasdelicate，andhewasthecleveroneofthefamily。Alltheout—of—doorsmenwouldhavesaidthesame；MrOsbornewishedatreecutdown，orkeptstanding，orhadsuch—and—suchafancyaboutthegame；orhaddesiredsomethingunusualaboutthehorses；andtheyhadalltoattendtoitasifitwerelaw。Butto—daytheBurgundywiththeyellowsealwastobebrought；anditwasbrought。Mollytestifiedwithquietvehemenceofaction；shenevertookwine，sosheneednothavebeenafraidoftheman’spouringitintoherglass；butasanopenmarkoffealtytotheabsentOsborne，howeverlittleitmightbeunderstood，sheplacedthepalmofhersmallbrownhandoverthetopoftheglass，andhelditthere，tillthewinehadgoneround，andRogerandhisfatherwereinfullenjoymentofthesame。Afterdinner，too，thegentlemenlingeredlongovertheirdessert，andMollyheardthemlaughing；andthenshesawthemloiteringaboutinthetwilightout—of—doors；Rogerhatless，hishandsinhispockets，loungingbyhisfather’sside，whowasnowabletotalkinhisusualloudandcheerfulway，forgettingOsborne。Voe，victis！AndsoinmuteoppositiononMolly’sside，inpoliteindifference，scarcelyvergingonkindlinessonhis，Rogerandshesteeredclearofeachother。
　　Hehadmanyoccupationsinwhichheneedednocompanionship，evenifshehadbeenqualifiedtogiveit。Theworstwas，thatshefoundhewasinthehabitofoccupyingthelibrary，herfavouriteretreat，inthemorningsbeforeMrsHamleycamedown。Sheopenedthehalf—closeddooradayortwoafterhisreturnhome，andfoundhimbusyamongbooksandpapers，withwhichthelargeleather—coveredtablewasstrewn；andshesoftlywithdrewbeforehecouldturnhisheadandseeher，soastodistinguishherfromoneofthehousemaids。Herodeouteveryday，sometimeswithhisfatherabouttheoutlyingfields，sometimesfarawayforagoodgallop。Mollywouldhaveenjoyedaccompanyinghimontheseoccasions，forshewasveryfondofriding；andtherehadbeensometalkofsendingforherhabitandgreyponywhenfirstshecametoHamley；onlythesquire，aftersomeconsideration，hadsaidhesorarelydidmorethangoslowlyfromonefieldtoanother，wherehislabourerswereatwork，thathefearedshewouldfindsuchslowwork—tenminutesridingthroughheavyland，twentyminutessittingstillonhorseback，listeningtothedirectionsheshouldhavetogivetohismen—ratherdull。Now，whenifshehadhadherponyhereshemighthaveriddenoutwithRoger，withoutgivinghimanytrouble—shewouldhavetakencareofthat—nobodyseemedtothinkofrenewingtheproposal。Altogetheritwaspleasanterbeforehecamehome。Herfathercameoverprettyfrequently；sometimestherewerelongunaccountableabsences，itwastrue；whenhisdaughterbegantofidgetafterhim，andtowonderwhathadbecomeofhim。Butwhenhemadehisappearancehehadalwaysgoodreasonstogive；andtherightshefeltthatshehadtohisfamiliarhouseholdtenderness；thepowershepossessedoffullyunderstandingtheexactvalueofbothhiswordsandhissilence，madetheseglimpsesofintercoursewithhiminexpressiblycharming。Latterlyherburdenhadalwaysbeen，’WhenmayIcomehome，papa？’Itwasnotthatshewasunhappy，oruncomfortable；shewaspassionatelyfondofMrsHamley，shewasafavouriteofthesquire’s，andcouldnotasYetfullyunderstandwhysomepeopleweresomuchafraidofhim；andasforRoger，ifhedidnotaddtoherpleasure，hescarcelytookawayfromit。Butshewantedtobeathomeoncemore。Thereasonwhyshecouldnottell；butthissheknewfullwell。MrGibsonreasonedwithhertillshewaswearyofbeingcompletelyconvincedthatitwasrightandnecessaryforhertostaywhereshewas。Andthenwithaneffortshestoppedthecryuponhertongue，forshesawthatitsrepetitionharassedherfather。DuringthisabsenceofhersMrGibsonwasdriftingintomatrimony。Hewaspartlyawareofwhitherhewasgoing；andpartlyitwaslikethesoftfloatingmovementofadream。Hewasmorepassivethanactiveintheaffair；though，ifhisreasonhadnotfullyapprovedofthestephewastendingto—ifhehadnotbelievedthatasecondmarriagewastheverybestwayofcuttingtheGordianknotofdomesticdifficulties，hecouldhavemadeaneffortwithoutanygreattroubletohimself，andextricatedhimselfwithoutpainfromthemeshofcircumstances。Ithappenedinthismanner：—LadyCumnorhavingmarriedhertwoeldestdaughters，foundherlaboursasachaperonetoLadyHarriet，theyoungest，considerablylightenedbyco—operation；and，atlength，shehadleisuretobeaninvalid。
　　Shewas，however，tooenergetictoallowherselfthisindulgenceconstantly；
　　onlyshepermittedherselftobreakdownoccasionallyafteralongcourseofdinners，latehours，andLondonatmosphere：andthen，leavingLadyHarrietwitheitherLadyCuxhavenorLadyAgnesManners，shebetookherselftothecomparativequietoftheTowers，whereshefoundoccupationindoingherbenevolence，whichwassadlyneglectedinthehurly—burlyofLondon。
　　Thisparticularsummershehadbrokendownearlierthanusual，andlongedforthereposeofthecountry。Shebelievedthatherstateofhealth，too，wasmoreseriousthanpreviously；butshedidnotsayawordofthistoherhusbandordaughters；reservingherconfidenceforMrGibson’scars。ShedidnotwishtotakeLadyHarrietawayfromthegaietiesoftownwhichshewasthoroughlyenjoying，byanycomplaintofhers，whichmight，afterall，beill—founded；andyetshedidnotquitelikebeingwithoutacompanioninthethreeweeksoramonththatmightintervenebeforeherfamilywouldjoinherattheTowers，especiallyastheannualfestivitytotheschoolvisitorswasimpending；andboththeschoolandthevisitoftheladiesconnectedwithit，hadratherlostthezestofnovelty。’Thursday，the19th，Harriet，’saidLadyCumnormeditatively；’whatdoyousaytocomingdowntotheTowersonthe18th，andhelpingmeoverthatlongday；youcouldstayinthecountrytillMonday，andhaveafewdays’
　　restandgoodair；youwouldreturnagreatdealfreshertotheremainderofyourgaieties。Yourfatherwouldbringyoudown，Iknow：indeed，heiscomingnaturally。’’Oh，mammal’saidLadyHarriet，theyoungestdaughterofthehouse—theprettiest，themostindulged；’Icannotgo；thereisthewater—partyuptoMaidenheadonthe20th，Ishouldbesosorrytomissit：andMrsDuncan’sball，andGrisi’sconcert；please，don’twantme。Besides，Ishoulddonogood。Ican’tmakeprovincialsmall—talk；I’mnotupinthelocalpoliticsofHollingford。Ishouldbemakingmischief，IknowIshould。’’Verywell，mydear，’saidLadyCumnor，sighing，’IhadforgottentheMaidenheadwater—party，orIwouldnothaveaskedyou。’’Whatapityitisn’ttheEtonholidays，sothatyoucouldhavehadHollingford’sboystohelpyoutodothehonours，mamma。Theyaresuchaffablelittleprigs。ItwasthegreatestfuntowatchthemlastyearatSirEdward’s，doingthehonoursoftheirgrandfather’shousetomuchsuchacollectionofhumbleadmirersasyougettogetherattheTowers。IshallneverforgetseeingEdgargravelysquiringaboutanoldladyinaportentousblackbonnet，andgivingherinformationinthecorrectestgrammarpossible。’’Well，Ilikethoselads，’saidLadyCuxhaven；’theyareonthewaytobecometruegentlemen。But，mamma，whyshouldn’tyouhaveClaretostaywithyou？Youlikeher，andsheisjustthepersontosaveyouthetroublesofhospitalitytotheHollingfordpeople，andweshouldallbesomuchmorecomfortableifweknewyouhadherwithyou。’’Yes，Clarewoulddoverywell，’saidLadyCumnor；’butisnotitherschool—timeorsomething？Wemustnotinterferewithherschoolsoastoinjureher，forIamafraidsheisnotdoingtoowellasitis；andshehasbeensoveryunluckyeversincesheleftus—firstherhusbanddied，andthenshelostLadyDavies’situation，andthenMrsMaude’s，andnowMrPrestontoldyourfatheritwasallshecoulddotopayherwayinAshcombe，thoughLordCumnorletsherhavethehouserent—free。’’Ican’tthinkhowitis，’saidLadyHarriet。’She’snotverywise，certainly；
　　butsheissousefulandagreeable，andhassuchpleasantmanners。Ishouldhavethoughtanyonewhowasn’tparticularabouteducationwouldhavebeencharmedtokeepherasagoverness。’’Whatdoyoumeanbynotbeingparticularabouteducation？Mostpeoplewhokeepgovernessesfortheirchildrenaresupposedtobeparticular，’
　　saidLadyCuxhaven。’Well，theythinkthemselvesso，I’venodoubt；butIcallyouparticular，Mary，andIdon’tthinkmammawas；butshethoughtherselfso，Iamsure。’’Ican’tthinkwhatyoumean，Harriet，’saidLadyCumnor，agooddealannoyedatthisspeechofherclever，heedless，youngestdaughter。’Ohdear，mamma，youdideverythingyoucouldthinkofforus；butyouseeyou’deversomanyotherengrossinginterests，andMaryhardlyeverallowsherloveforherhusbandtointerferewithherall—absorbingcareforthechildren。Yougaveusthebestofmastersineverydepartment，andClaretodragonizeandkeepusuptoourpreparationforthesemasters，aswellasevershecould；butthenyouknow，orratheryoudidn’tknow，someofthemastersadmiredourveryprettygoverness，andtherewasakindofrespectableveiledflirtationgoingon，whichnevercametoanything，tobesure；andthenyouwereoftensooverwhelmedwithyourbusinessasagreatlady—fashionableandbenevolent，andallthatsortofthing—
　　thatyouusedtocallClareawayfromusatthemostcriticaltimesofourlessons，towriteyournotes，oraddupyouraccounts，andtheconsequenceis，thatI’maboutthemostill—informedgirlinLondon。OnlyMarywassocapitallytrainedbygoodawkwardMissBenson，thatsheisalwaysfulltooverflowingwithaccurateknowledge，andhergloryisreflecteduponme。’’DoyouthinkwhatHarrietsaysistrue，Mary？’askedLadyCumnor，ratheranxiously。’IwassolittlewithClareintheschoolroom。IusedtoreadFrenchwithher；shehadabeautifulaccent，Iremember。BothAgnesandHarrietwereveryfondofher。IusedtobejealousforMissBenson’ssake，andperhaps—’LadyCuxhavenpausedaminute—’thatmademefancythatshehadawayofflatteringandindulgingthem—notquiteconscientious，Iusedtothink。Butgirlsareseverejudges，andcertainlyshehashadananxiousenoughlifesince。Iamalwayssogladwhenwecanhaveher，andgiveheralittlepleasure。Theonlythingthatmakesmeuneasynowisthewayinwhichsheseemstosendherdaughterawayfromhersomuch；wenevercanpersuadehertobringCynthiawithherwhenshecomestoseeus。’’NowthatIcallill—natured，’saidLadyHarriet；’hereisapoordearwomantryingtoearnherlivelihood，firstasagoverness，andwhatcouldshedowithherdaughterthen，butsendhertoschool？andafterthat，whenClareisaskedtogovisiting，andistoomodesttobringhergirlwithher—besidesalltheexpenseofthejourney，andtheriggingout—Maryfindsfaultwithherforhermodestyandeconomy。’’Well，afterall，wearenotdiscussingClareandheraffairs，buttryingtoplanformamma’scomfort。Idon’tseethatshecandobetterthanaskMrsKirkpatricktocometotheTowers—assoonasherholidaysbegin，Imean。’’Hereisherlastletter，’saidLadyCumnor，whohadbeensearchingforitinherescritoire，whileherdaughtersweretalking。
　　Holdingherglassesbeforehereyes，shebegantoread，’"MywontedmisfortunesappeartohavefollowedmetoAshcombe"—um，um，um；that’snotit—"MrPrestonismostkindinsendingmefruitandflowersfromtheManor—house，accordingtodearLordCumnor’skindinjunctions。"Oh，hereitis！"Thevacationbeginsonthe11th，accordingtotheusualcustomofschoolsinAshcombe；andImustthentryandobtainsomechangeofairandscene，inordertofitmyselffortheresumptionofmydutiesonthe10thofAugust。"
　　Yousee，girls，shewouldbeatliberty，ifshehasnotmadeanyotherarrangementforspendingherholidays。To—dayisthe15th。’’I’llwritetoheratonce，mamma，’LadyHarrietsaid。’ClareandIarealwaysgreatfriends；IwasherconfidantinherloveswithpoorMrKirkpatrick，andwe’vekeptupourintimacyeversince。Iknowofthreeoffersshehadbesides。’’IsincerelyhopeMissBowesisnottellingherlove—affairstoGraceorLily。Why，Harriet，youcouldnothavebeenolderthanGracewhenClarewasmarried！’saidLadyCuxhaveninmaternalalarm。’No；butIwaswellversedinthetenderpassion，thankstonovels。NowIdaresayyoudon’tadmitnovelsintoyourschool—room，Mary；soyourdaughterswouldn’tbeabletoadministerdiscreetsympathytotheirgovernessincaseshewastheheroineofalove—affair。’’MydearHarriet，don’tletmehearyoutalkingofloveinthatway；itisnotpretty。Loveisaseriousthing。’’Mydearmamma，yourexhortationsarejusteighteenyearstoolate。I’vetalkedallthefreshnessofflove，andthat’sthereasonI’mtiredofthesubject。’ThislastspeechreferredtoarecentrefusalofladyHarriet’s，whichhaddispleasedLadyCumnor，andratherannoyedmylord；asthey，theparents，couldseenoobjectiontothegentlemaninquestion。LadyCuxhavendidnotwanttohavethesubjectbroughtup，soshehastenedtosay，—’DoaskthepoorlittledaughtertocomewithhermothertotheTowers；
　　why，shemustbeseventeenormore；shewouldreallybeacompaniontoyou，mamma，ifhermotherwasunabletocome，’saidLadyCuxhaven。’IwasnottenwhenClaremarried，andI’mnearlynine—and—twenty，’addedLadyHarriet。’Don’tspeakofit，Harriet；atanyrateyouarebuteight—and—twentynow，andyoulookagreatdealyounger。Thereisnoneedtobealwaysbringingupyourageoneverypossibleoccasion。’’Therewasneedofitnow，though。IwantedtomakeouthowoldCynthiaKirkpatrickwas。Ithinkshecan’tbefarfromeighteen。’’SheisatschoolatBoulogne，Iknow；andsoIdon’tthinkshecanbeasoldasthat。Claresayssomethingaboutherinthisletter："Underthesecircumstances"（theill—successofherschool），"IcannotthinkmyselfjustifiedinallowingmyselfthepleasureofhavingdarlingCynthiaathomefortheholidays；especiallyastheperiodwhenthevacationinFrenchschoolscommencesdiffersfromthatcommoninEngland；anditmightoccasionsomeconfusioninmyarrangementsifdarlingCynthiaweretocometoAshcombe，andoccupymytimeandthoughtssoimmediatelybeforethecommencementofmyscholasticdutiesasthe8thofAugust，onwhichdayhervacationbegins，whichisbuttwodaysbeforemyholidaysend。"So，yousee，Clarewouldbequiteatlibertytocometome，andIdaresayitwouldbeaverynicechangeforher。’’AndHollingfordisbusyseeingafterhisnewlaboratoryattheTowers，andisconstantlybackwardsandforwards。AndAgneswantstogothereforchangeofair，assoonassheisstrongenoughafterherconfinement。Andevenmyowndearinsatiable"me"willhavehadenoughofgaietyintwoorthreeweeks，ifthishotweatherlasts。’’IthinkImaybeabletocomedownforafewdaystoo，ifyouwillletme，mamma；andI’llbringGrace，whoislookingratherpaleandweedy；
　　growingtoofast，Iamafraid。SoIhopeyouwon’tbedull。’’Mydear，’saidLadyCumnor，drawingherselfup，’Ishouldbeashamedoffeelingdullwithmyresources；mydutiestoothersandtomyself！’SotheplaninitspresentshapewastoldtoLordCumnor，whohighlyapprovedofit；ashealwaysdidofeveryprojectofhiswife’s。LadyCumnor’scharacterwasperhapsalittletooponderousforhiminreality，buthewasalwaysfullofadmirationforallherwordsanddeeds，andusedtoboastofherwisdom，herbenevolence，herpoweranddignity，inherabsence，asifbythismeanshecouldbuttressuphisownmorefeeblenature。’Verygood—verygood，indeed！ClaretojoinyouattheTowers！Capital！
　　Icouldnothaveplanneditbettermyself！IshallgodownwithyouonWednesdayintimeforthejollificationonThursday。Ialwaysenjoythatday；theyaresuchnice，friendlypeople，thosegoodHollingfordladies。
　　ThenI’llhaveadaywithSheepshanks，andperhapsImayrideovertoAshcombeandseePreston—BrownJesscandoitinaday，eighteenmiles—tobesure！Butthere’sbackagaintotheTowers！howmuchistwiceeighteen—thirty？’’Thirty—six，’saidLadyCumnor，sharply。’Soitis；you’realwaysright，mydear。Preston’saclever，sharpfellow。’’Idon’tlikehim，’saidmylady。’Hetakeslookingafter；buthe’sasharpfellow。He’ssuchagood—lookingman，too，Iwonderyoudon’tlikehim。’’Ineverthinkwhetheraland—agentishandsomeornot。Theydon’tbelongtotheclassofpeoplewhoseappearanceInotice。’’Tobesurenot。Butheisahandsomefellow；andwhatshouldmakeyoulikehimistheinteresthetakesinClareandherprospects。Heisconstantlysuggestingsomethingthatcanbedonetoherhouse，andIknowhesendsherfruit，andflowers，andgamejustasregularlyasweshouldourselvesifwelivedatAshcombe。’’Howoldishe？’saidLadyCumnor，withafaintsuspicionofmotivesinhermind。’Abouttwenty—seven，Ithink。Ah！Iseewhatisinyourladyship’shead。
　　No！no！he’stooyoungforthat。Youmustlookoutforsomemiddle—agedman，ifyouwanttogetpoorClaremarried；Prestonwon’tdo。’’I’mnotamatch—maker，asyoumightknow。Ineverdiditformyowndaughters。
　　I’mnotlikelytodoitforClare，’saidshe，leaningbacklanguidly。’Well！youmightdoaworsething。I’mbeginningtothinkshe’llnevergetonasaschoolmistress，thoughwhysheshouldnot，I’msureIdon’tknow；forshe’sanuncommonlyprettywomanforherage，andherhavinglivedinourfamily，andyourhavinghadhersooftenwithyou，oughttogoagoodway。Isay，mylady，whatdoyouthinkofGibson？Hewouldbejusttherightage—widower—livesneartheTowers。’’ItoldyoujustnowIwasnomatch—maker，mylord。Isupposewehadbettergobytheoldroad—thepeopleatthoseinnsknowus？’AndsotheypassedontospeakingaboutotherthingsthanMrsKirkpatrickandherprospects，scholasticormatrimonial。
　　chapter09CHAPTERIXTHEWIDOWERANDTHEWIDOWMrsKirkpatrickwasonlytoohappytoacceptLadyCumnor’sinvitation。
　　Itwaswhatshehadbeenhopingfor，buthardlydaringtoexpect，asshebelievedthatthefamilyweresettledinLondonforsometimetocome。
　　TheTowerswasapleasantandluxurioushouseinwhichtopassherholidays；
　　andthoughshewasnotonetomakedeepplans，ortolookfarahead，shewasquiteawareoftheprestigewhichherbeingabletosayshehadbeenstayingwith’dearLadyCumnor’attheTowers，waslikelytogiveherandherschoolintheeyesofagoodmanypeople；soshegladlypreparedtojoinherladyshiponthe17th。Herwardrobedidnotrequiremucharrangement；
　　ifithaddone，thepoorladywouldnothavehadmuchmoneytoappropriatetothepurpose。Shewasveryprettyandgraceful；andthatgoesagreatwaytowardscarryingoffshabbyclothes；anditwashertastemorethananydepthoffeeling，thathadmadeherpersevereinwearingallthedelicatetints—thevioletsandgreys—which，withacertainadmixtureofblack，constitutehalf—mourning。ThisstyleofbecomingdressshewassupposedtowearinmemoryofMrKirkpatrick；inrealitybecauseitwasbothlady—likeandeconomical。Herbeautifulhairwasofthatrichauburnthathardlyeverturnsgrey；andpartlyoutofconsciousnessofitsbeauty，andpartlybecausethewashingofcapsisexpensive，shedidnotwearanythingonherhead；hercomplexionhadthevividtintsthatoftenaccompanythekindofhairwhichhasoncebeenred；andtheonlyinjuryherskinhadreceivedfromadvancingyearswasthatthecolouringwasrathermorebrilliantthandelicate，andvariedlesswitheverypassingemotion。Shecouldnolongerblush；andateighteenshehadbeenveryproudofherblushes。Hereyesweresoft，large，andchina—blueincolour。theyhadnotmuchexpressionorshadowaboutthem，whichwasperhapsowingtotheflaxencolourofhereyelashes。Herfigurewasalittlefullerthanitusedtobe，buthermovementswereassoftandsinuousasever。Altogether，shelookedmuchyoungerthanherage，whichwasnotfarshortofforty。Shehadaverypleasantvoice，andreadaloudwellanddistinctly，whichLadyCumnorliked。Indeed，forsomeinexplicablereason，shewasagreater；morepositivefavouritewithLadyCumnorthanwithanyoftherestofthefamily，thoughtheyalllikedheruptoacertainpoint，andfounditagreeablyusefultohaveanyoneinthehousewhowassowellacquaintedwiththeirwaysandhabits；soreadytotalk，whenalittletrickleofconversationwasrequired；sowillingtolisten，andtolistenwithtolerableintelligence，ifthesubjectsspokenaboutdidnotrefertoserioussolidliterature，orscience，orpolitics，orsocialeconomy。Aboutnovelsandpoetry，travelsandgossip，personaldetails，oranecdotesofanykind，shealwaysmadeexactlytheremarkswhichareexpectedfromanagreeablelistener；andshehadsenseenoughtoconfineherselftothoseshortexpressionsofwonder，admiration，andastonishment，whichmaymeananything，whenmorereconditethingsweretalkedabout。Itwasaverypleasantchangetoapoorunsuccessfulschoolmistresstoleaveherownhouse，fullofbatteredandshabbyfurniture（shehadtakenthegoodwillandfurnitureofherpredecessoratavaluation，twoorthreeyearsbefore），wherethelook—outwasasgloomy，andthesurroundingassqualid，asisoftenthecaseinthesmallerstreetsofacountrytown，andtocomebowlingthroughtheTowersParkintheluxuriouscarriagesenttomeether；toalight，andfeelsecurethatthewell—trainedservantswouldseeafterherbagsandumbrella，andparasol，andcloak，withoutherloadingherselfwithalltheseportablearticles，asshehadhadtodowhilefollowingthewheel—barrowcontainingherluggageingoingtotheAshcombecoach—officethatmorning；topassupthedeep—piledcarpetsofthebroadshallowstairsintomylady’sownroom，coolanddeliciouslyfresh，evenonthissultryday，andfragrantwithgreatbowlsoffreshlygatheredrosesofeveryshadeofcolour。Thereweretwoorthreenewnovelslyinguncutonthetable；thedailypapers，themagazines。Everychairwasaneasy—chairofsomekindorother；andallcoveredwithFrenchchintzthatmimickedtherealflowersinthegardenbelow。Shewasfamiliarwiththebedroomcalledhers，towhichshewassoonusheredbyLadyCumnor’smaid。Itseemedtoherfarmorelikehomethanthedingyplaceshehadleftthatmorning；itwassonaturaltohertolikedaintydraperiesandharmoniouscolouring，andfinelinenandsoftraiment。Shesatedownonthearm—chairbythebed—side，andwonderedoverherfatesomethinginthisfashion，—’Onewouldthinkitwasaneasyenoughthingtodeckalooking—glasslikethatwithmuslinandpinkribbons；andyethowharditistokeepitup！
　　Peopledon’tknowhowharditistillthey’vetriedasIhave。ImademyownglassjustasprettywhenIfirstwenttoAshcombe；butthemuslingotdirty，andthepinkribbonsfaded，anditissodifficulttoearnmoneytorenewthem；andwhenonehasgotthemoneyonehasn’tthehearttospenditallatonce。Onethinksandonethinkshowonecangetthemostgoodoutofit；andanewgown，oraday’spleasure，orsomehot—housefruit，orsomepieceofelegancethatcanbeseenandnoticedinone’sdrawing—room，carriestheday，andgood—bytoprettilydeckedlooking—glasses。Nowhere，moneyisliketheairtheybreathe。Nooneeverasksorknowshowmuchthewashingcosts，orwhatpinkribbonisayard。Ah！itwouldbedifferentiftheyhadtoearneverypennyasIhave！Theywouldhavetocalculate，likeme，howtogetthemostpleasureoutofit。IwonderifIamtogoonallmylifetoilingandmoilingformoney？It’snotnatural。Marriageisthenaturalthing；thenthehusbandhasallthatkindofdirtyworktodo，andhiswifesitsinthedrawing—roomlikealady。Idid，whenpoorKirkpatrickwasalive。Heigho！it’sasadthingtobeawidow。’ThentherewasthecontrastbetweenthedinnerswhichshehadtosharewithherscholarsatAshcombe—roundsofbeef，legsofmutton，greatdishesofpotatoes，andlargebarter—puddings，withthetinymealofexquisitelycookeddelicacies，sentuponoldChelseachina，thatwasservedeverydaytotheearlandcountessandherselfattheTowers。Shedreadedtheendofherholidaysasmuchasthemosthome—lovingofherpupils。Butatthistimethatendwassomeweeksoff，soClareshuthereyestothefuture，andtriedtorelishthepresenttoitsfullestextent。Adisturbancetothepleasant，evencourseofthesummerdayscameintheindispositionofLadyCumnor。HerhusbandhadgonebacktoLondon，andsheandMrsKirkpatrickhadbeenlefttotheveryeventenoroflife，whichwasaccordingtomylady’swishjustnow。Inspiteofherlanguorandfatigue，shehadgonethroughthedaywhentheschoolvisitorscametotheTowers，infulldignity，dictatingclearlyallthatwastobedone，whatwalksweretobetaken，whathothousestobeseen，andwhenthepartyweretoreturntothe’collation。’