"Mrs. Grey told me that her children had never done so well with any
one," said Mrs. Curtis. "She wanted to engage Miss Williams
permanently, but could not induce her to leave her sister, or even to
remove her to London, on account of her health."

"Do you know her, Grace?" asked Fanny.

"I have called once or twice, and have been very much pleased with
the sick sister; but Rachel does not fancy that set, you see. I meet
the other at the Sunday school, I like her looks and manner very
much, and she is always at the early service before her work."

"Just like a little mauve book!" muttered Rachel.

Fanny absolutely stared. "You go, don't you, Rachel? How we used to
wish for it!"

"You have wished and we have tried," said Rachel, with a sigh.

"Yes, Rachel," said Grace; "but with all drawbacks, all
disappointments in ourselves, it is a great blessing. We would not
be without it."

"I could not be satisfied in relinquishing it voluntarily," said
Rachel, "but I am necessarily one of the idle. Were I one of the
occupied, laborare est orare would satisfy me, and that poor
governess ought to feel the same. Think of the physical reaction of
body on mind, and tell me if you could have the barbarity of
depriving that poor jaded thing of an hour's sleep, giving her an
additional walk, fasting, in all weathers, and preparing her to be