CHAPTER XVIII. MIRTH AND MOURNING

heywouldblushtospeakawordagainstthemandtoheartheslightestblameimputedtotheirpupilswasworsethantobecensuredintheirownpersons—andIreallythinkitverynatural,formypart.” “Doyou,ma’am?” “Yes,ofcourse:theyounglady’sproficiencyandeleganceisofmoreconsequencetothegovernessthanherown,aswellastotheworld.Ifshewishestoprosperinhervocationshemustdevoteallherenergiestoherbusiness:allherideasandallherambitionwilltendtotheaccomplishmentofthatoneobject.Whenwewishtodecideuponthemeritsofagoverness,wenaturallylookattheyoungladiessheprofessestohaveeducated,andjudgeaccordingly.Thejudiciousgovernessknowsthis:sheknowsthat,whileshelivesinobscurityherself,herpupils’virtuesanddefectswillbeopentoeveryeyeandthat,unlessshelosessightofherselfintheircultivation,sheneednothopeforsuccess.Yousee,MissGrey,itisjustthesameasanyothertradeorprofession:theythatwishtoprospermustdevotethemselvesbodyandsoultotheircallingandiftheybegintoyieldtoindolenceorself-indulgencetheyarespeedilydistancedbywisercompetitors:thereislittletochoosebetweenapersonthatruinsherpupilsbyneglect,andonethatcorruptsthembyherexample.Youwillexcusemydroppingtheselittlehints:youknowitisallforyourowngood.Manyladieswouldspeaktoyoumuchmorestronglyandmanywouldnottroublethemselvestospeakatall,butquietlylookoutforasubstitute.That,ofcourse,wouldbetheeasiestplan:butIknowtheadvantagesofaplacelikethistoapersoninyoursituationandIhavenodesiretopartwithyou,asIamsureyouwoulddoverywellifyouwillonlythinkofthesethingsandtrytoexertyourselfalittlemore:then,Iamconvinced,youwouldsoonacquirethatdelicatetactwhichaloneiswantingtogiveyouaproperinfluenceoverthemindofyourpupil.” Iwasabouttogivetheladysomeideaofthefallacyofherexpectationsbutshesailedawayassoonasshehadconcludedherspeech.Havingsaidwhatshewished,itwasnopartofherplantoawaitmyanswer:itwasmybusinesstohear,andnottospeak. However,asIhavesaid,Matildaatlengthyieldedinsomedegreetohermother’sauthority(pityithadnotbeenexertedbefore)andbeingthusdeprivedofalmosteverysourceofamusement,therewasnothingforitbuttotakelongrideswiththegroomandlongwalkswiththegoverness,andtovisitthecottagesandfarmhousesonherfather’sestate,tokilltimeinchattingwiththeoldmenandwomenthatinhabitedthem.Inoneofthesewalks,itwasourchancetomeetMr.Weston.ThiswaswhatIhadlongdesiredbutnow,foramoment,IwishedeitherheorIwereaway:IfeltmyheartthrobsoviolentlythatIdreadedlestsomeoutwardsignsofemotionshouldappearbutIthinkhehardlyglancedatme,andIwassooncalmenough.Afterabriefsalutationtoboth,heaskedMatildaifshehadlatelyheardfromhersister. “Yes,”repliedshe.“ShewasatPariswhenshewrote,andverywell,andveryhappy.” Shespokethelastwordemphatically,andwithaglanceimpertinentlysly.Hedidnotseemtonoticeit,butreplied,withequalemphasis,andveryseriously— “Ihopeshewillcontinuetobeso.” “Doyouthinkitlikely?”Iventuredtoinquire:forMatildahadstartedoffinpursuitofherdog,thatwaschasingaleveret. “Icannottell,”repliedhe.“SirThomasmaybeabettermanthanIsupposebut,fromallIhaveheardandseen,itseemsapitythat