n which most girls are still putting their
dolls to bed; and thus had early acquired that sense of responsibility,
accompanied with the habits of self-reliance, which seldom fails to give
a certain nobility to character; though almost as often, in the case of
women, it steals away the tender gentleness which constitutes the charm
of their sex.

It had not done so in the instance of Cecilia Travers, because she was
so womanlike that even the exercise of power could not make her manlike.
There was in the depth of her nature such an instinct of sweetness that
wherever her mind toiled and wandered it gathered and hoarded honey.

She had one advantage over most girls in the same rank of life,--she
had not been taught to fritter away such capacities for culture as
Providence gave her in the sterile nothingnesses which are called
feminine accomplishments. She did not paint figures out of drawing
in meagre water-colours; she had not devoted years of her life to the
inflicting on polite audiences the boredom of Italian bravuras, which
they could hear better sung by a third-rate professional singer in
a metropolitan music-hall. I am afraid she had no other female
accomplishments than those by which the sempstress or embroideress earns
her daily bread. That sort of work she loved, and she did it deftly.

But if she had not been profitlessly plagued by masters, Cecilia Travers
had been singularly favoured by her father's choice of a teacher: no
great merit in him either. He had a prejudice against professional
governesses, and it chanced that among his own family connections was a
certain Mrs. Campion, a lady of some literary distinction, whose husband
had held a high situation in one of our public offices, and living, much
to his satisfaction, up to a very handsome income, had died, much to the
astonishment of others, without leaving a farthing behind him.

Fortunately, there were no children to provide for. A small government
pension was allotted to the widow; and as her husband's house had been
made by her one of the pleasantest in London, she was popular enough to
be invited by numerous friends to their country seats; among others, by
Mr. Travers. She came intending to stay a fortnight. At the end of that
time she had grown so attached to Cecilia, and Cecilia to her, and her
presence had become so pleasant and so useful to her host, that
the Squire entreated her to stay and undertake the education of his
daughter. Mrs. Campi