‘I _quite_ understand what you feel about this matter relating to the governess of the future, and it was only my fear that you might be unwittingly getting into troubled waters that induced me to write you at once about it. It is a _very_ difficult question to solve, and one that wants a good deal more thought so that no mistake may be made. My plan is to take up the idea of a “pupil teacher” in Government Schools, and from that form some plan for the education of those who aspire to be the teachers of the future. I should then carry out the idea I have always entertained of giving a preference to our own pupils, and working them up to our standard. I have always regretted that we missed Bessie Calrow, as she was a born teacher and would have delighted in the work. It seems to me that as you do not take these pupils until they are seventeen, you have a great chance among your own pupils, and would certainly know their own character better than any stranger; therefore, to any one who had passed through the College—could pass the necessary examination, and was willing to be such pupil teacher—I would pay the College fees and half the boarding-house expenses, or all if you like, and would give her a fair trial, and if at the end of twelve months, or longer as might be thought desirable, it was not satisfactory to all parties, let her depart and no harm would be done. This is a far better and more dignified position than being educated by _charity_; and the person enjoying it would lose nothing of her dignity, if it was not even added to by the position. If the plan is to do any good it must be grafted on to the College, and I for one should be very sorry to see that obliged to go to the public for any funds it requires to do good. I would make the pupils sign nothing on my plan, my hold upon them would be their association with the College. I can quite understand the difficulties raised by the boarding-houses about new pupils at that age, but with old ones that difficulty is at once removed; as, like the præpostors, they would have certain privileges, but at the same time they must submit to the discipline of the house. My plan may be, and no doubt is very crude, but these are the lines I should start from and feel my way tentatively, so as not to destroy the independence of the individual. Look where you get the best masters of public schools:—The man who succeeds is a scholar and very likely Fellow of his College; he may have been Bible-clerk, sizar, or undergraduate, and so has worked his way upwards and obtained his position from hard work, thus adding to his dignity and power of teaching. And I should follow as much as possible in these tracks.’