r
return, she should require an exact account of the manner in which the
interval had been employed.

The carriage that conveyed their mother away was scarcely out of
hearing, when Charlotte, delighted with her freedom, hastened upstairs
to the schoolroom, where she looked around on books, globes, maps,
drawings, to select some new employment for the morning. Long before
she had decided upon any, her sister had quietly seated herself at her
accustomed station, thinking that she could do nothing better than
finish the French exercise she had begun the day before. Charlotte,
however, declined attending to French that day, and after much
indecision, and saying "I have a great mind to" three several times
without finishing the sentence, she at last took down a volume of
Cowper, and read in different parts for about half an hour. Then
throwing it aside, she said she had a great mind to put the
bookshelves in order--a business which she commenced with great
spirit. But in the course of her laudable undertaking, she met with a
manuscript in shorthand; whereupon she exclaimed to her sister,
"Caroline, don't you remember that old Mr. Henderson once promised he
would teach us shorthand? How much I should like to learn! Only, mamma
thought we had not time. But now, this would be such a good
opportunity. I am sure I could learn it well in six weeks; and how
convenient it would be! One could take down sermons, or anything; and
I could make Rachel learn, and then how very pleasant it would be to
write to each other in shorthand! Indeed, it would be convenient in a
hundred ways." So saying, she ran upstairs, without any further delay,
and putting on her hat and spencer, set off to old Mr. Henderson's.

Mr. Henderson happened to be at dinner. Nevertheless, Charlotte
obtained admittance on the plea of urgent business; but she entered
his apartment so much out of breath, and in such apparent agitation,
that the old gentleman, rising hastily from table, and looking
anxiously at her over his spectacles, inquired in a tremulous tone
what was the matter. When, therefore, Charlotte explained her
business, he appeared a little disconcerted; but having gently
reproved her for her undue eagerness, he composedly resumed his knife
and fork, though his hand shook much more than usual during the
remainder of his meal. However, being very good-natured, as soon as he
had dined he cheerfully gave Charlotte her first lesson in shorthand,
promising to