her a better education than generally falls to women of that
standing, and in spite of her shop she succeeded in retaining the
friendship of certain ladies long ago her schoolfellows. Among these
were the Misses Lumb--middle-aged sisters, who lived at Twybridge
on a small independence, their time chiefly devoted to the support
of the Anglican Church. An eldest Miss Lumb had been fortunate
enough to marry that growing potentate of the Midlands, Mr. Job
Whitelaw. Now Lady Whitelaw, she dwelt at Kingsmill, but her sisters
frequently enjoyed the honour of entertaining her, and even Miss
Cadman the milliner occasionally held converse with the baronet's
wife. In this way it came to pass that the Widow Peak and her
children were brought under the notice of persons who sooner or
later might be of assistance to them.

Abounding in emphatic advice, Miss Cadman easily persuaded her
sister that Godwin must go to school for at least two years longer.
The boys had been at a boarding-school twenty miles away from their
country home; it would be better for them now to be put under the
care of some Twybridge teacher--such an one as Miss Cadman's
acquaintances could recommend. For her own credit, the milliner was
anxious that these nephews of hers should not be running about the
town as errand-boys or the like, and with prudence there was no
necessity for such degradation. An uncommon lad like Godwin (she
imagined him named after the historic earl) must not be robbed of
his fair chance in life; she would gladly spare a little money for
his benefit; he was a boy to repay such expenditure.

Indeed it seemed probable. Godwin devoured books, and had a
remarkable faculty for gaining solid information on any subject that
took his fancy. What might be the special bent of his mind one could