‘Yes,’ replied Mrs. Piper, ‘I am very well satisfied with Bella Scratchell. She’s the first governess I’ve had that has given me satisfaction--and I’ve had seven since we’ve lived at Little Yafford. She’s very young for such a position--with clever girls like mine, who are much beyond their years, especially; and when Mr. Scratchell first applied for the situation I felt I couldn’t entertain his proposal. “Give her a trial, Mrs. Piper,” he said, “you don’t know how she’s been educated. She’s had all the advantages Miss Harefield has had, and she’s known a great deal better how to value them.” So I thought it over, and I agreed to give Bella a trial. She couldn’t well be worse than the others had been, I considered, and I gave her the chance. Of course it would be a great opening in life for her to come here. Not that we make our governess one of the family. I don’t hold with that, no more does Piper. Miss Scratchell comes and goes quietly, and keeps her place. She is very useful and domesticated, and when I’ve been ill I’ve found her a great comfort in looking after the servants for me, and helping me to go over the tradesmen’s books; for you know what poor health I’ve had of late years, Mrs. Dulcimer, and what trouble I’ve had with my servants.’ Mrs. Dulcimer sighed a sympathetic assent. ‘If I’m alone she stops to luncheon with me; if I’m not, Bella superintends the children’s dinner, and after that she can go home as soon as she likes. The rest of the day is her own.’ ‘It must be rather dull for a young girl like her, never seeing any society,’ suggested Mrs. Dulcimer. ‘I shouldn’t think Mr. Scratchell had brought up his daughters to expect society, if you mean parties and that sort of thing,’ replied Mrs. Piper, severely. ‘My children ought to be society enough for a young woman in Bella’s position.’ ‘Of course. She would naturally be very fond of them,’ assented the Vicar’s wife. ‘But I was thinking with regard to her marrying; a girl who has nothing to expect from her father ought to marry.’ Mrs. Piper was averse from match-making. She had married well herself, and was rather inclined to regard matrimony as a luxury intended for the favoured few--like a cockade on a coachman’s hat, or a range of glass houses in one’s garden. ‘I hope Bella is not thinking of a husband,’ she said, disapprovingly. ‘For my part, when a young woman begins husband-hunting, I always think her useless for everything else. I should be very sorry to have Elizabeth taught by a governess who was thinking of husbands. The dear child would get ideas, and, with her intelligence----’ Mrs. Dulcimer’s good nature took fright immediately. ‘Oh, I do not believe Bella has ever given a thought to such a thing,’ she exclaimed. ‘She is quite wrapped up in her teaching, and so fond of your dear girls. But I rather think that Mr. Culverhouse admires her very much, and you must allow that it would be a suitable match.’