"'But you did find help, somewhere?' "'Not such as I wanted; not health and strength to my poor darkened spirit.' "'And why? Because they sought it not in faith ...' "'Ah! faith! but who can command this faith?' "'Everybody.' "'Everybody! If it has pleased God to darken our understandings so that we do not know him at all, it may be as you say. But if we know him--not to trust in him--_that_ worst of faith must be our own fault.' "She was silent, and seemed to sink into a reverie, which I would not disturb. At last she shook it off, and turning suddenly to me, said, 'Clementina had got nearer this truth than I had, or have. Yes, that it was--that it must have been--which supported her in circumstances far worse than mine. She was patient, composed, resigned, and, in spite of her natural feebleness, showed a strength which I ever wanted. She endured better than I do, when she lay low as I do now, and suffered worse, far worse. How was it?' "'My strength is made perfect in weakness'--'Is not that said?' "Again she fixed her eyes with a searching, earnest expression upon mine. "'But, tell me,' I continued, 'how it fared with you? I fear badly.' "'Perhaps you are not aware, Madam, how much strength, both of body and spirit, it requires to make a governess.' "'I think I am aware of it, in good measure.' "'There seems nothing very onerous in the task of teaching children during a certain number of hours every day, and living with them during the rest. But those who have tried it alone know how irksome, how exhausting is the wearisome routine of ungrateful labor. My situation was tiresome enough. They were a family of high-spirited children, as wild as the hills in which they had been bred, and whose greatest pleasure was to torment their young governess; though I was rather excited than depressed by our frequent struggles for mastery. Then the mother, when she did interfere, was sensible and just; and she supported me when she thought me right, through every thing. If she disapproved, too, I could be hot and unreasonable in my turn, and she gently told me of my fault in private, so as to never impair my authority. She was a wise and excellent woman. A good mother, and a true friend, even to her governess. But it was different with Clementina. Shut up in London, with a family of cold-hearted, proud children, already spoiled by the world, and never finding it possible to satisfy an exacting mother, do what she would, the task was soon too hard for her. The more languid her health and spirits became, the feebler her voice, the paler her cheek, the greater was the dissatisfaction of the lady whom she served. When the family doctor was at last called in, he pronounced her to be in so critical a state of health, that rest and change of air were indispensable. So she left, with fifteen pounds--a half-year's salary. "'Consumption had set in when I saw her. What was to become of her? We knew of no such place as this, then.