ith one
or other of her sisters, especially as Irene, the youngest, who had for
the last twelve months undertaken the task of governess to the two Miss
Maitlands, their next-door neighbours, was now engaged to be married,
and the house, it was urged, would be too large and too lonely for Aunt
Mary to reside in with any comfort.

This proposition, however, did not at all suit one who had for so many
years acted independently; nor, although she was fond of children, would
she on any account undertake a partial teaching of them. 'Let me have
all the say, or none,' was Aunt Mary's maxim, so she decided to remain
where she was, promising however, that when her sister Irene should
marry Captain Gordon, she would take into serious consideration Mr. and
Mrs. Maitland's earnest request, that she would continue the education
of their two dear girls at her own house.

This, after the lapse of six months, Miss Livesay had agreed to, and had
also sent for the eldest daughter of her sister Mrs. Beaumont, who was
now a widow, with three children, though she had been left very well
off, and could have sent her daughter Clara to a first-rate school, had
she been so disposed. Mrs. Beaumont, however, knew too well the benefit
her child was likely to derive from the real education she would receive
from her sister Mary, to hesitate for a moment as to putting her under
that lady's exclusive care; and thus at the same time that Oak Villa
received Mrs. Maitland's two little girls, Annie and Dora, it became
also the pleasant home of Clara Beaumont, who although she was the
youngest of the trio, was certainly the most seriously disposed;
perhaps, poor child, on account of the loss of her dear papa, who had
died very unexpectedly, in the prime of life, from neglected cold, which
terminated in acute bronchitis. This, though it had occurred six months
previous to Clara's advent at Oak Villa, was an event still deeply felt
and lamented by the sensitive child, and produced a seriousness of
character seldom seen in children of her age; but the change was likely
to prove very beneficial both to her health and spirits, and it was not
long before Aunt Mary saw, with much pleasure, that her niece gladly
entered upon her studies, and appeared very desirous to overtake her
young companions in their several lessons, which, as she was exceedingly
industrious, she was very likely to do before many weeks had passed
away.

We must now, however, look after Au