rcumstances were straitened, and but for Walter's assistance,
which had been given whenever he could possibly afford to do so, they
would have found it difficult to make ends meet. Mr. Holmes had been
unfortunate in business, and the widow had sacrificed part of her
jointure, and the invalid sister as much of her little fortune as was
at her own disposal, to assist him in his difficulties. Their
generosity had the usual result of only delaying the crash for him, and
of finally impoverishing themselves.

One most promising brother had died at the close of a long, expensive
professional education, which he had expected to turn to great account
for the benefit of his sisters. Walter himself had been sent out to
Australia in his father's lifetime with a better capital than could
have been given afterwards, so that he always considered that he had
got more than his share, and that his assistance was nothing at all
generous.

The young Holmeses were taught and guarded by their mother night and
day; she accompanied their walks, she overlooked their games, she read
all their books before giving them to the children to read, and cut out
or erased anything that she thought incorrect in fact or questionable
in tendency. She allowed no intercourse with servants, and almost as
little with playfellows of their own age. And when Uncle Walter from
Australia came first to disturb the even tenor of their way by lavish
presents of sweetmeats, cakes, and toys, and by offers to take the
whole family to every attainable amusement, he was first reasoned with,
and then, as he was not convinced, he was put down, his gifts returned,
and the children instructed to say that they would rather not have the
treats he offered. He certainly preferred the wild spirits and
rebellious conduct of the little Phillipses, even in their worst days,
to the prim good-child behaviour of his own nephews and nieces.

He had the pleasure of telling Mrs. Holmes on this occasion that the
wild young Australians had been reduced to something like order by an
admirable governess whom he had been the means of procuring for them:
that in spite of all the overindulgence she had suffered from, Emily
was proving a very tolerable scholar--that she had good abilities and
an excellent heart, though she did climb on his knee for comfits, and
beg to be taken to Astley's. Mrs. Holmes wondered at his procuring a
governess for the children, and asked a good deal about her, with the