only capable of being valuable in proportion
to her docility and amiable conduct.

Mrs. Harewood had been accustomed to give her children the treat of a ball
at Christmas; but on this year she put it off until midsummer, partly
because she was afraid, in so large a party, and with such various
dispositions, Matilda might not be able to conduct herself with perfect
propriety during a whole evening, and partly because she wished her to
learn to dance; for although this was, in her eyes, a very secondary
accomplishment, when compared to solid knowledge, yet, as a healthful and
innocent amusement, and called for in order to form the person in that
station of life in which Matilda was likely to move, she desired to see her
acquire at least as much of it as would preserve her from the appearance of
awkwardness. It was an object of anxiety with this truly maternal friend to
save her from all unnecessary mortification, at the same time she earnestly
desired to see her tractable, humble, and gentle.

Time now passed away pleasantly, for all were occupied, and therefore
happy: the idle are subject to many errors, and therefore many sorrows,
from which the busy are exempt.

The good governess studied the temper and disposition of her pupils, and
drew them forth in the happiest manner; not by making exhibitions of their
attainments to others, but by showing them what was necessary to themselves
for their improvement. She considered the work of education as sowing good
seed, which shall spring up with vigour in advancing life, in proportion to
the depth of the soil and its preparation for receiving it.

Whilst Miss Campbell inculcated those branches of polite learning which
give a grace to virtue, she was still more desirous of inculcating virtue
itself, by grafting it on religious principle, and that "fear of God, which
is the beginning of wisdom."

The children of Mrs. Harewood had been taught, from their earliest days,
that prudence and charity must go hand in hand; but it remained for Miss
Campbell to impress this salutary truth on the mind of Matilda, who was
naturally very generous, but debased that feeling by ostentation, and ever
sought to indulge it with a vain and hurtful profusion, until she became
enlightened by her young preceptress, who likewise, in many other points,
regulated those desires in her pupils which blend good and evil, and
require a firm and delicate management. She was very solicitous to render
them