Champion Hill is a gravel byway, overhung with trees; large houses
and spacious gardens on either hand. Here the heat of the sun was
tempered. A carriage rolled softly along; a nurse with well-dressed
children loitered in the shade. One might have imagined it a country
road, so profound the stillness and so leafy the prospect.

A year ago, Jessica Morgan had obtained a three months' engagement
as governess to two little girls, who were sent under her care to
the house of their grandmother at Teignmouth. Their father, Mr
Vawdrey of Champion Hill, had recently lost his wife through an
illness contracted at a horse-race, where the lady sat in wind and
rain for some hours. The children knew little of what is learnt from
books, but were surprisingly well informed on matters of which they
ought to have known nothing; they talked of theatres and
race-courses, of 'the new murderer' at Tussaud's, of police-news, of
notorious spendthrifts and demi-reps; discussed their grown-up
acquaintances with precocious understanding, and repeated scandalous
insinuations which could have no meaning for them. Jessica was
supposed to teach them for two hours daily; she found it an
impossibility. Nevertheless a liking grew up between her and her
charges, and, save by their refusal to study, the children gave her
no trouble; they were abundantly good-natured, they laughed and
sported all day long, and did their best to put life into the pale,
overworked governess.

Whilst living thus at the seaside, Jessica was delighted by the
arrival of Nancy Lord, who came to Teignmouth for a summer holiday.
With her came Mary Woodruff. The faithful servant had been ill; Mr
Lord sent her down into Devon to make a complete recovery, and to