wife was the _ci-devant_ governess at Mr. Ferguson's.

"Will you walk up into my room? I wanted a word with you before
lessons."

"Certainly, Mrs. Grey. I hope you are quite satisfied with my
instruction of Miss Grey. Indeed, my recommendations--as I told Miss
Gascoigne--include some of the very first families--"

"I have no doubt Miss Gascoigne was satisfied," interrupted Mrs. Grey,
not quite liking the flippant manner, the showy style of dress, and the
air, at once subservient and forward; in truth, something which, despite
her prettiness, stamped the governess as underbred, exactly what Aunt
Henrietta had said--"not a lady."

"Your qualifications for teaching I have no wish to investigate; what I
have to speak about is a totally different thing."

Miss Bennett looked uneasy for a minute, but Christian's manner was
so studiously polite, even kindly, that she seemed to think nothing
could be seriously wrong. She sat down composedly on the crimson
sofa, and began investigating, with admiring, curious, and rather
envious eyes, the handsome room, half boudoir, half bed-chamber.

"Oh, Mrs. Grey, what a nice room this is! How you must enjoy it! It's
a hard life, teaching children."

"It is a hard life, as I know, for I was once a governess myself."

This admission, given so frankly, without the least hesitation, evidently