re seldom apart, she had not spoken of the kind and charitable
actions which Matilda had performed, fearful of injuring by praise those
blossoms which were now only beginning to expand; but she now dilated on
them with pleasure, both to the happy mother and Mrs. Weston; and such was
the effect of this discourse on the former, that tears of pleasure and
gratitude to Heaven ran down her cheek. Matilda, although still engaged
with the child, catching a view of her mother under this emotion, could not
forbear running up to her, and tenderly inquired what was the matter.

"Nothing at all, my love, at least nothing painful; we have been speaking
of you--I am anxious to engage you a governess."

"Well, mamma, and will Mrs. Weston be so good as to undertake me?"

The ladies all started, but by no means with any symptom of dismay,
although Mrs. Hanson said, with some confusion, to Mrs. Weston--"My little
girl takes a great liberty, ma'am, but you must pardon her premature
request; she fancies you are an old friend, I believe, because you are her
countrywoman."

"I wish sincerely I had any other claim to being considered her friend,
madam, as in that case----"

Mrs. Weston suddenly checked herself, her colour rose, and the tears stood
in her eyes.

"Suffer me, my dear friend, to interpret your silence for Mrs. Hanson;--in
_that_ case you would not object to undertaking the charge which Matilda
has very innocently, though very abruptly, been willing to assign to you?"

"If you are a faithful interpreter, I will call you a most agreeable one,"
said Mrs. Hanson, "for Mrs. Weston would be an equal acquisition to both me
and my daughter."

Mrs. Weston wiped her eyes--"Believe me, dear ladies," said she, "I am
grateful for your good opinion, and truly desirous of profiting by your
kind offer; but you are both mothers, and will, I am certain, consider my
situation as such. I am but newly arrived; it will take some time to wean
my poor child from her habits; and to send one so very young to school, is
a painful consideration; in a few months I shall be happy indeed to avail
myself of your goodness, and enter with pleasure on so promising a task."

Mrs. Hanson was just going to express her entire approbation of this
proposal, when Matilda, with a modest, but earnest air, entreated
permission to speak, which was immediately granted.

"Do not think me vain nor presuming, dear Mrs. Weston, if I say, that,
whilst you are my governes