experienced, that she felt herself
quite capable of discharging this part of her duty. It was the
responsibility of her new office of daily governess which made her most
anxious. A situation had been obtained for her, which answered in all
respects to Mr Barker's wishes. Jane was to devote six hours a day to
the care of her young pupils, who were children of Mr Everett, a
surgeon. Mrs Everett was so occupied with the cares of a large family,
that she needed assistance, and Jane was to have under her charge four
children from the ages of three to twelve: she was to teach them, to
superintend in their play hours, and to walk with them. She was to
attend from nine till three, and her salary was to be twenty-five pounds
a year at first, and afterwards more, if her services were found
satisfactory. She stipulated for a fortnight's holiday at Christmas,
and also at Midsummer: not for the sake of her own pleasure, but from
the fear that her home business would accumulate faster than she could
discharge it, so as to render it necessary to devote a short time
occasionally to clear it away, and set things straight again. Before
she entered on her new engagement, she laid down a plan for the
employment of her days, to which she determined to adhere as strictly as
possible. It was as follows: for the summer season, which was now
approaching, she rose before six o'clock, and set apart two hours for
study. Study was absolutely necessary, if she was to keep up, or
improve, her ability to teach; and she found that the hours before
breakfast were the most quiet and undisturbed that she could devote to
this purpose. At eight o'clock the little family assembled in the
parlour, to join in prayer, and in reading a short portion of Scripture;
after which, they breakfasted. Jane then saw her sisters and little
brother off to school, and went into her kitchen to give her household
directions before she went out. It was some inconvenience that she
could not dine at the same time with the rest of the family; but it
could not be helped. The children were obliged to be back at school by
two o'clock, and she did not leave Mrs Everett's till three. After
dinner, she sat down to her work, of which it may be supposed there was
always plenty to be done. The children learned their lessons before
tea-time, and after tea they went out to walk all together, whenever the
weather would allow of it. They generally returned in time to read a
li