mains to us. From the time
that Madame Bathurst had first known me till the last twenty-four hours,
not a symptom of pride had ever been discovered in me. As the
_protegee_ and adopted daughter of Madame d'Albret, with brilliant
prospects, I was all humility--now a dependent, with a salary of 100
pounds per annum, Valerie was as proud as Lucifer himself. Madame
Bathurst perceived this, and I must do her the justice to say, that she
was very guarded in her conduct towards me. She felt sympathy for me,
and treated me with more kindness, and, I may say, with more respect
than she did when I was her visitor and her equal.

The next day I informed Caroline of the change in my prospects, and of
my having accepted the office of governess--that was to say, on a six
months' trial. I pointed out to her that it would now be my duty to see
that she did not neglect her studies, and that I was determined to do
justice to Madame Bathurst's confidence reposed in me. Caroline, who
was of a very amiable and sweet disposition, replied, "That she should
always look upon me as her friend and companion, and from her love for
me, would do everything I wished," and she kept her word.

The reader will agree with me, that it was impossible for any one to
have been lowered down in position more gently than I was in this
instance. The servants never knew that I had accepted the offer of
governess, for I was invariably called Valerie by Madame Bathurst and
her niece, and was treated as I was before when a visitor to the house.
I bestowed much time upon Caroline, and taught myself daily, that I
might be more able to teach her. I went back to the elements in
everything, that I might be more capable of instructing, and Caroline
made rapid progress in music, and promised to have, in a few years, a
very fine voice. We went to town for the season, but I avoided company
as much as possible--so much so, that Madame Bathurst complained of it.

"Valerie, you do wrong not to make your appearance. You retire in such
a way that people naturally put questions to me, and ask if you are the
governess, or what you are."

"I wish them to do so, my dear madame, and I want you to reply frankly.
I am the governess, and do not like anything like concealment."

"But I cannot admit that you are what may be called a governess,
Valerie. You are a young friend staying with me, who instructs my
niece."

"That is what a governess ought to be," replied I, "a yo