are
not clever, would not the situation of a nursery governess be more
fitting for you? Forgive me; I am only speaking for your good; one feels
a little uncomfortable at seeing a gentlewoman desert the ranks to which
she belongs."

My face was burning by this time; of course it must all come out--that
miserable defect of mine, and everything else; but raising my eyes at
that moment I saw such a kind look on Mrs. Morton's face, such quietly
expressed sympathy for my very evident confusion, that in a moment my
reserve broke down. I do not know what I said, but I believe I must have
been very eloquent. I could hear her say to herself, "How very
strange--what a misfortune!" when I frankly mentioned my inability to
spell, but I did not linger long on this point.

Warmed by her strong interest, I detailed boldly what I called my
theory. I told her of my love for little children, my longing to work
amongst them, how deeply I felt that this would indeed be a
gentlewoman's work, that I did not fear my want of experience. I told
her that once I had stayed for some weeks at the house of one of my
schoolfellows, and that every night and morning I had gone up to the
nursery to help the nurse wash and dress the babies, and that at the end
of a week I had learned to do it as well as the woman herself, and that
she had told my schoolfellow that she had never seen any young lady so
handy and patient with children, and that they were happier with me than
with their own sister.

"The second child had the croup one night," I continued; "the mother was
away, and nurse was too frightened to be of any use. When the doctor
came he praised her very much for her prompt remedies; he said they had
probably saved the boy's life, as the attack was a severe one. Nurse
cried when he said that, and owned it was not she who had thought of
everything, but Miss Fenton. I tell you this," I continued, "that you
may understand that I am reliable. I was only nineteen then, and now I
am two and twenty."

She looked at me again in a gentle, scrutinising way; I could feel that
I was making way in her good opinion. Her curiosity was piqued; her
interest strongly excited. She made no attempt to check me as I launched
out into further defence of my theory, but she only smiled and said,
"Very true, I agree with you there," as I spoke of the advantage of
having an educated person to superintend the nursery. Indeed, I found
myself retailing all my pet arguments i