"Poor fellow!" says Clarissa, in a suspiciously choky tone. "Then I espoused the vicar," says Mrs. Redmond, with a sentimental sigh. "One does foolish things sometimes." "That, now, was a wise one. I would not marry a king if I loved a beggar. Altogether, you behaved beautifully, and just like a novel." Feeling that the moment for action has arrived, as Mrs. Redmond is now in a glow of pride and vanity well mixed, Clarissa goes on sweetly: "I have some news for you." "For me?" "Yes, for you. I know how delicate you are, and how unable to manage those two strong children you have at home. And I know, too, you have been looking out for a suitable governess for some time, but you have found a difficulty in choosing one, have you not?" "Indeed I have." "Well, I think I know some who will just suit you. She was at school with me, and, though poor now, having lost both father and mother, is of very good family, and well connected." "But the salary?" says Mrs. Redmond, with some hesitation. "The salary is the thing. I hear of no one now who will come for less than sixty or seventy pounds a year at the lowest; and with Henry at school, and Rupert's college expenses, forty pounds is as much as we can afford to give." "Miss Broughton will, I think, be quite content with that: she only wants to be happy, and at rest, and she will be all that with you and Cissy and Mr. Redmond. She is young, and it is her first trial, but she is very clever: she has a really lovely voice, and paints excessively well. Ethel has rather a taste for painting, has she not?" "A decided talent for it. All my family were remarkable for their artistic tendencies, so she, doubtless, inherits it; and--yes, of course, it would be a great thing for her to have some one on the spot to develop this talent, and train it. Your friend, you say, is well connected?" "Very highly connected, on her mother's side. Her father was a lieutenant in the navy, and very respectable too, I believe; though I know nothing of him." "That she should be a lady is, of course, indispensable," says Mrs. Redmond, with all the pride that ought to belong to softgoods people. "I need hardly say _that_, I think. But why does she not appeal for help to her mother's relations?" "Because she prefers honest work to begging from those who up to this have taken no notice of her." "I admire her," says Mrs. Redmond, warmly. "If you think she will be satisfied with forty pounds, I should like to try what she could do with the children." "I am very glad you have so decided. I know no place in which I would rather see a friend of mine than here." "Thank you, my dear. Then will you write to her, or shall I?" "Let me write to her first, if you don't mind: I think I can settle everything." "Mind?--no, indeed: it is only too good of you to take so much trouble about me." To which Clarissa says, prettily,--