'And I should have been glad for Anne to have joined you,' said Lady Merton; 'it is long since your godfather has heard you, Anne.' 'Not since we were here last,' said Anne, 'and that is almost two years ago.' 'And where is Lizzie?' said Lady Merton; 'is she with your Mamma?' 'No,' said Helen, 'her other work is not over yet. On Sunday evening, she always reads with four great girls who have left school, and have no time to learn except on Sunday evenings. I am sure I cannot think how she can; I should have thought morning and afternoon school quite enough for anyone!' And she threw herself back on the sofa, and gave a very long yawn. Her aunt smiled as she answered, 'You certainly seem to find it so.' 'Indeed I do,' said Helen; 'I think teaching the most tiresome work in the world.' 'O Helen, is it possible?' cried Anne. 'Helen is not much used to it,' said her aunt. 'No,' said Helen, 'there used to be teachers enough without me, but now Lizzie wants me to take a class, I suppose I must, because it is my duty; but really I do not think I can ever like it.' 'If you do it cheerfully because it is your duty, you will soon be surprised to find yourself interested in it,' said her aunt. 'Now, Aunt Anne,' said Helen, sitting up, and looking rather more alive, 'I really did take all the pains I could to-day, but I was never more worried than with the dullness of those children. They could not answer the simplest question.' 'Most poor children seem dull with a new teacher,' said Lady Merton; 'besides which, you perhaps did not use language which they could understand.' 'Possibly,' said Helen languidly; 'but then there is another thing which I dislike--I cannot bear to hear the most beautiful chapters in the Bible stammered over as if the children had not the least perception of their meaning.' 'Their not being able to read the chapter fluently is no proof that they do not enter into it,' said Lady Merton; 'it often happens that the best readers understand less than some awkward blunderers, who read with reverence.' 'Then it is very vexatious,' said Helen. 'You will tell a different story next year,' said Lady Merton, 'when you have learnt a little more of the ways of the poor children.' 'I hope so,' said Helen; 'but what I have seen to-day only makes me wonder how Papa and Lizzie can get the children to make such beautiful answers as they sometimes do in church.' 'And perhaps,' said Lady Merton, smiling, 'the person who taught Miss Helen Woodbourne to repeat Gray's Elegy, would be inclined to wonder how at fourteen she could have become a tolerably well-informed young lady.' 'Oh, Aunt,' said Helen, 'have not you forgotten that day? How dreadfully I must have tormented everybody! I am sure Mamma's patience must have been wonderful.' 'And I am very glad that Lizzie saves her from so much of the labour of teaching now,' said Lady Merton. 'I see what you mean,' said Helen; 'I ought to help too.'