CHAPTER VI. THE PARSONAGE AGAIN

tarts.Ihaveknownseveralamongthehigherrankswhotreatedtheirgovernessesquiteasoneofthefamilythoughsome,Iallow,areasinsolentandexactingasanyoneelsecanbe:fortherearebadandgoodinallclasses.” Theadvertisementwasquicklywrittenanddespatched.Ofthetwopartieswhoansweredit,butonewouldconsenttogivemefiftypounds,thesummymotherbademenameasthesalaryIshouldrequireandhere,Ihesitatedaboutengagingmyself,asIfearedthechildrenwouldbetooold,andtheirparentswouldrequiresomeonemoreshowy,ormoreexperienced,ifnotmoreaccomplishedthanI.Butmymotherdissuadedmefromdecliningitonthataccount:Ishoulddovastlywell,shesaid,ifIwouldonlythrowasidemydiffidence,andacquirealittlemoreconfidenceinmyself.Iwasjusttogiveaplain,truestatementofmyacquirementsandqualifications,andnamewhatstipulationsIchosetomake,andthenawaittheresult.TheonlystipulationIventuredtopropose,wasthatImightbeallowedtwomonths’holidaysduringtheyeartovisitmyfriends,atMidsummerandChristmas.Theunknownlady,inherreply,madenoobjectiontothis,andstatedthat,astomyacquirements,shehadnodoubtIshouldbeabletogivesatisfactionbutintheengagementofgovernessessheconsideredthosethingsasbutsubordinatepointsasbeingsituatedintheneighbourhoodofO——,shecouldgetmasterstosupplyanydeficienciesinthatrespect:but,inheropinion,nexttounimpeachablemorality,amildandcheerfultemperandobligingdispositionwerethemostessentialrequisities. Mymotherdidnotrelishthisatall,andnowmademanyobjectionstomyacceptingthesituationinwhichmysisterwarmlysupportedher:but,unwillingtobebalkedagain,Ioverruledthemalland,havingfirstobtainedtheconsentofmyfather(whohad,ashorttimepreviously,beenapprisedofthesetransactions),Iwroteamostobligingepistletomyunknowncorrespondent,and,finally,thebargainwasconcluded. ItwasdecreedthatonthelastdayofJanuaryIwastoenteruponmynewofficeasgovernessinthefamilyofMr.Murray,ofHortonLodge,nearO——,aboutseventymilesfromourvillage:aformidabledistancetome,asIhadneverbeenabovetwenty