I did not think it was at all a pleasant party. They all chattered about parish matters, district-visiting, and the Sunday-school, and the life the curate’s wife led her husband--of which I knew nothing at all; and I went to a table at the window, where there were two large albums of photographs, and looked at them by myself. But when Mr. Manners came in there was a little stir among them, and they all smiled at him and left off their chatter, and seemed to look to him to suggest a new topic; and he said the weather looked promising for next day, and they all flew upon this new topic and worried it to death. Then, when he had said a few words to each of them, he came up to me and asked me kindly why I was sitting all alone in a corner, and sat down by me, and told me who the people in the albums were, and showed me some pictures of Swiss scenery, and talked about the places they represented. I almost wished he would not, for the other ladies did not seem pleased. Then we had tea, and Mr. Manners made me sit by him. He went out as soon as it was over, and we all went back into the drawing-room and wrote numbers on tickets; I forget what they were for, but I remember that there was great confusion because several of the ladies made mistakes, so that, while some numbers were missed out altogether, there were a great many tickets bearing the same number. Mrs. Manners asked me if I should like to come upstairs and see the things for sale, all the rest of the ladies having seen them many times already. So we went up together, and, while we were looking at them, she said nervously-- “You have never been in a situation before, have you?” “No, never before.” “A governess’s position has many trials and difficulties.” “I haven’t met with many yet. I have been fortunate,” said I, smiling. Mrs. Manners looked at me as if she wanted to ask more than she dared; but she only said-- “Of course some families are pleasanter to live with than others. But in all there arise occasions when we must pray for guidance”--and I thought of my resolution to go--“and when we must walk circumspectly”--and I thought of the best way of treating Sarah. I only answered-- “Yes, Mrs. Manners”--very gently. She seemed pleased by my submission, and said suddenly, as if to herself, after looking at me for a few moments-- “An honest open face!”--which made me blush--then, in a quicker, more practical tone--“You have no father, and have always lived quietly with your mother? Of course you write to her often?” “Oh, yes.” “So that you can have the benefit of her counsel in any difficulty?” I hesitated. Nobody ever seemed to think of going to mamma for counsel; we always kept things from her that were likely to disturb her, because she had delicate nerves, and used to go into hysterics if anything went wrong. So I said--