instinct rather than reason; there was a fencing between Rachel and
the curate that made her uncomfortable, and led her to break it off
by any means in her power; and though Mr. Touchett was not much at
his ease with the little boy, this discussion was staged off. But
again Mr. Touchett made bold to say that in case Lady Temple wished
for a daily governess, he knew of a very desirable young person, a
most admirable pair of sisters, who had met with great reverses, but
Rachel snapped him off shorter than ever. "We can decide nothing
yet; I have made up my mind to teach the little boys at present."

"Oh, indeed!"

"It is very kind," said the perplexed Lady Temple.

"I beg your pardon, I only thought, in case you were wishing for some
one, that Miss Williams will be at liberty shortly."

"I do not imagine Miss Williams is the person to deal with little
boys," said Rachel. "In fact, I think that home teaching is always
better than hired."

"I am so much obliged," said Fanny, as Mr. Touchett, after this
defeat, rose up to take leave, and she held out her hand, smiled,
thanked, and sent him away so much sweetened and gratified, that
Rachel would have instantly begun dissecting him, but that a whole
rush of boys broke in, and again engrossed their mother, and in the
next lull, the uppermost necessity was of explaining about the
servants who had been hired for the time, one of whom was a young
woman whose health had given way over her lace pillow, and Rachel was
eloquent over the crying evils of the system (everything was a system