'And I am sorry to say that you will be a good deal with her,' Miss Darrell said, shaking her head gravely; 'for you are to take the second English class under her--I heard them say so at dinner to-day--and I am afraid she will fidget you almost out of your life; but you must try to keep your temper, and take things as quietly as you can, and I daresay in time you will be able to get on with her.' 'I'm sure I hope so,' I answered rather sadly; and then Miss Darrell asked me how long I was to be at Albury Lodge. 'Three years,' I told her; 'and after that, Miss Bagshot is to place me somewhere as a governess.' 'You are going to be a governess always?' 'I suppose so,' I answered. The word 'always' struck me with a little sharp pain, almost like a wound. Yes, I supposed it would be always. I was neither pretty nor attractive. What issue could there be for me out of that dull hackneyed round of daily duties which makes up the sum of a governess's life? 'I am obliged to do something for my living,' I said; 'my father is very poor. I hope I may be able to help him a little by and by.' 'And my father is so ridiculously rich. He is a great ironmaster, and has wharves and warehouses, and goodness knows what, at North Shields. How hard it seems!' 'What seems hard?' I asked absently. 'That money should be so unequally divided. Do you know, I don't think I should much mind going out as a governess: it would be a way of seeing life. One must meet with all sorts of adventures, going among strangers like that.' I looked at her as she smiled at me, with a smile that gave an indescribable brightness to her face, and I fancied that for her indeed there could be no form of life so dull that would not hold some triumph, some success. She seemed a creature born to extract brightness out of the commonest things, a creature to be only admired and caressed, go where she might. 'You a governess!' I said, a little scornfully; 'you are not of the clay that makes governesses.' 'Why not?' 'You are much too pretty and too fascinating.' 'O, Mary Crofton, Mary Crofton--may I call you Mary, please? we are going to be such friends--if you begin by flattering me like that, how am I ever to trust you and lean upon you? I want some one with a stronger mind than my own, you know, dear, to lead me right; for I'm the weakest, vainest creature in the world, I believe. Papa has spoiled me so.' 'If you are always like what you are to-night, I don't think the spoiling has done much mischief,' I said. 'O, I am always amiable enough, so long as I have my own way. And now tell me all about your home.'