and then had engaged in conversation with Mr. Hogarth for a
considerable time. Now she supposed Jane must fancy she was not
receiving sufficient attention from her hostess, considering that she
was the only lady guest, so she came forward, and withdrew her from the
animated conversation of the gentlemen, and proceeded to entertain her
in the best way that she could. Her younger children (not her youngest,
for they were in bed) were gathered around her, and the conversation
was somewhat desultory, owing to their interruptions and little
delinquencies. It was now getting time for them, too, to go to bed, and
it was not without repeated orders from mamma, supported at last by a
forcible observation from papa, that they bade the company good-night,
and retired. They were all very nice-looking children, and not
ill-disposed, though somewhat refractory and dilatory about the vexed
question of going to bed.

Talking to them and about them naturally brought up the subject of
education; and Jane timidly inquired if Mrs. Rennie was in want
of a governess, or if she knew any one who was.

"No; the children are all at school or under masters--the best masters
in Edinburgh--for Mr. Rennie is extravagant in the matter of
education. The children get on better--there is more emulation; and
then there is such a houseful of ourselves, that we would not know
where to put a governess, though it might otherwise be an economy,"
said Mrs. Rennie.

"I should like to have classes," said Jane--trying to speak boldly for
herself; "to teach what I have learned under the same masters whom you
are so pleased with--English philologically, with the practice of
composition, writing, arithmetic, and mathematics. I can get