t I should disgrace them?
that I should forget all my father has done for me? Jane will trust me,
I am sure."

He looked towards his sister, and a few proud tears swelled into his
eyes.

"No doubt, Charles, your sister feels that she can trust you; and, young
as you are, I believe that I can too. But there are many difficulties
to be encountered besides direct temptations to crime."

"If I am made fairly to understand, Sir, what is to be required of me,
the extent of my trust, I hope I shall meet with no difficulties which
honourable principle, industry, and perseverance cannot overcome."

"We will talk more of this, my dear boy, when we have some situation in
prospect for you. I hope it may not be difficult to procure one. Your
father's name will be a good passport. Then, I hope, I understand that
you both approve this first scheme of ours?"

Charles assented at once: Jane, with some exertion to repress her tears.

"And now, my dear Jane, what do you think yourself capable of doing?"

Jane very modestly doubted whether she could do any thing but take care
of the children. If they were to live together, she could keep house,
she thought, carefully and economically, so as to spend no more than
could not possibly be avoided. She thought she could also teach her
sisters a little more than she had yet imparted to them: but she hoped,
from what Mr Barker had said, that they were to have better teaching
than she could give them.

"We have certainly been planning, my dear," said he, "to send Isabella
to school, as she is now too old to learn of you only. She is twelve
years old, I think?"

"Yes," said Jane; "and Harriet is nine."

"Very well. If Isabella goes to school, Harriet may as well do so too,
as the additional expense will not be very great, and may be met by your
exertions, if you think as I do about the matter. Your sisters have
given you experience in teaching young children, suppose you try your
skill again as a daily governess."

Jane was quite willing, if she did but think herself capable of it. Mr
Barker thought she had already proved her capability, and advised her,
at least, to try the plan.

He told her that a very small house in the outskirts of the town was her
father's property. A very little expense would make it habitable for
them: furniture was ready, and he could see no objection to their all
living in it together. Jane was certainly rather young to become a
housekeeper, but