Offer to give an Englishman lessons at two shillings an hour, and he will look upon you as a poor, needy wretch, and tell you "It's too dear." Put on a high and mighty look, and ask him for a guinea, and his eyes and mouth will grow round with respect; he will probably make you a respectful bow and, with a few flattering words, pay what you ask: _experto crede_. I extract the following from the report of a case which was lately heard at the Court of Queen's Bench. A young governess claims the sum of £7 10s. for six months' lessons. Her mistress refuses to pay her, because she left before the expiration of the term; upon which the plaintiff states that she had been struck by her mistress in the presence of the children, and had left in consequence. The case is tried: _Judge._--"Did you sign a twelve months' engagement?" _Governess._--"No, my lord, I should never think of signing such a thing." _Judge._--"Why?" _Governess._--"Because at the end of six months I always need a rest." _Judge._--"I can understand that. I don't doubt that before long you will find engagements of three months' duration quite long enough to satisfy you." (Laughter). _Governess._--"Neither do I, my lord." (Renewed laughter). Later on the Judge addresses the defendant. _Judge._--"Do you admit having struck the plaintiff?" _Defendant._--"Yes, my lord, I gave her a slap." _Judge._--"In the presence of your children?" _Defendant._--"Yes, my lord; the plaintiff had insulted my little boy." _Judge._--"In what way?" _Defendant._--"She had called him 'rude little fellow' and 'little idiot.' Your lordship will quite understand that I could not put up with such conduct in a governess." And, as she pronounced the words _in a governess_, the look of disgust on the face of the excellent lady must have been a sight to be seen. It would have been a charity to offer her a glass of water to rinse her mouth. Who would be a governess and highly educated? But unfortunately the fact is that in England a governess rarely is very highly educated. She becomes a governess much as many a man becomes a schoolmaster: to take revenge on the backs of a rising generation for mortifications endured in the battle of life. Private teaching is a _pis aller_; it is a career, not lucrative it is true, but that you can embrace ... when you have tried all kinds of employments without succeeding at any, and things are looking bad. When England possesses a teaching body recognised as professional; when no one will be permitted to teach without having previously obtained a certificate of capacity, a thing required of the apothecary's assistant; when the law forbids the dispensing of adulterated instruction, the governess will be able to hold up her head: she will have in her pocket a certificate of superiority over the mother of the children confided to her care; she will no longer have to blush for her calling, but, on the contrary, will be able to take a pride in it.