nities of improving herself either by books or
society. I think she feels her deficiencies; so if you could ingratiate
yourself with her--she appears to be most favourably disposed towards
you at first sight--and induce her to learn a little from you, you
would add very greatly to our happiness and comfort, and I should be
infinitely your debtor."

Mr. Phillips hesitated, and coloured a little while he made this
suggestion. Jane said she would do what she could, and would be most
happy to further his views in this and in every other way; but she felt
not a little fearful at the idea of having to ingratiate herself with
the woman she had been exhorted to take high ground with, and to teach,
probably in the most elementary branches, the most lovely creature she
had ever seen, the mistress of the house, and a person several years
her senior. Still, no difficulty--no honour. She had wanted full
employment, and here she was likely to get it.

Jane did not think she had naturally any great turn for children, but
the little Phillipses had been so accustomed to have people pet and
yield to them that they actually seemed to enjoy the repose and
happiness of obeying, and obeying at once, their calm, grave governess,
who never asked them to do anything unreasonable, but yet who always
insisted on implicit acquiescence. They were indebted to her tor the
shortening and simplifying of all their lessons in the first place, and
that called out a considerable amount of gratitude. She had a clear way
of explaining things to them, and she had such a large information on
all subjects that she filled out the dry skeletons of geography and
history which children are condemned to learn, and made them look
living and real to them. Their father had taught the two elder girls to
read, and to read well and fluently; but they had had no other lessons
till they had come to London, and found their hitherto unexercised
memories quite overtaxed by masters, who saw that the girls were quick,
intelligent, and observant, with a great deal of practical knowledge
quite unusual in England at their years, but absolutely devoid of all
school acquirements. They found their lessons much more interesting to
learn and much better retained when learned under Miss Melville than
under their masters; and though they were not particularly fond of her,
they were very happy with her.

Mrs. Phillips's only objection to Miss Melville was her Scotch accent;
but, before