ladies would suit her, for we cannot get music-masters here, and one
must have a governess who has a good knowledge of music. If Mr. Maxwell
had not just engaged a tutor for his boys, you might have perhaps
undertaken that place, Miss Melville."

"I think I might," said Jane.

"Would it not be pleasanter, if we have to take situations, to go to a
distance," said Elsie. "I do not think I could I bear you or myself to
be near Cross Hall when everything is so changed."

"It would be more agreeable, I have no doubt, Miss Elsie; and I cannot
help thinking that in such a place as Edinburgh or Glasgow, where there
are masters and mistresses for everything, you could get on by having
classes, or engaging as teachers at some institution. In the country we
want governesses and schoolmistresses to know everything a girl ought
to learn."

"Is there nothing but teaching that we can do?" said Jane.

"Well, you know there is nothing that a gentlewoman can turn to in such
circumstances as yours but teaching, and I would be very glad indeed to
see you both in nice comfortable situations. By-the-by, Miss Elsie, I
copied into my album the very sweet verses you sent me, and have
brought them back to you. Are they really your own? William says he
thinks they are."

"Yes," said Elsie, "they are original."

"Well, I could not have thought it; they are extremely pretty."