Such a condition of things could not be
favourable to the progress of Grimble education.
Mr. and Mrs. Grimblc, though goodhearted
people in their way, had been trained in
the comfortless school of genteel poverty. By
pinching alone could they maintain what they
conceived to be their social status. Hence
they had not hesitated to avail themselves of
the services of Esther, both as nurse and
governess, for their six children, without other
remuneration than her board and lodging.
They knew that, save for her worthy aunt,
Mrs. Turnover, Esther was without friends
capable of assisting her, and kept the secret of
their jewel governess so tightly, that, I am sorry
to say, when once an opportunity presented itself
of placing Esther in a far superior position,
Mrs. Grimble so successfully under-estimated
her governess's acquirements as to retain her in
the family. Of this circumstance Miss Vann
had been somehow made aware. But warmly
attached to her pupils, and content with the
personal kindness she received from her
employers, she had willingly remained in the
position in which we found her.

"Do you know, Grimble, I am not quite
pleased with Esther of late?" said Mrs. G. to
her lord. "Ever since her last visit to her
Aunt Turnover, when she stopped away all
night without my leave, she has been like a
changed girl. I am afraid she neglects the
children."

"Ha! why do you think so, my dear?"
inquired Mr. Grimble, with whom Esther was
rather a favourite.

"I've had it on my mind some time," said
the lady, "and to-day I examined them all.
They have not advanced one bit. Margaret's
still in simple long division; Maud insisted that
Dublin was the capital of North Wales; and
Tommy had a theory that eggs were the invention
of Christopher Columbus, when straitened
for provisions while looking for the pole. I shall
speak very seriously to Esther on the subject."

"Of the egg, my dear? And 'seriously'?
It is more than I would promise to do," said
her husband, laughing. "But," he added, "do
you think that Esther is quite well? She has
looked queerly at times. Besides, she is a good
girl, and remember, mamma, we don't pay her
a princely salary!"

"We give her all she wants, and we treat her
as an equal, which is more than they would do
at any of your great houses," returned the
lady; "and she ought to do her duty by us
according."

"—Ly, my love," put in Mr. Grimble, who,
since Esther had been in the house, had grown
particular in his grammar. "Well, so she ought.
Give her a jog, if you like, just to keep her up
to the collar, you know, that's all."

On the day that witnessed this conversation,
headache, and that strange sense of uneasiness
before alluded to, had compelled poor Esther to
seek her own chamber, where she sat wilh
flushed and burning checks, striving vainly to
compose her troubled thoughts. She no longer
attempted to disguise from herself the strength
of the feeling that possessed her. She loved
with a wild ineradicable love, the depths of
which she dared not fathom. But, he?—

"I —I cannot bear this," she gasped, with a
choking sob that seemed to give her pain. "Is
it—is it real? Dare I believe him? Oh, if he
cannot love me, let me die!"

"Miss Vann! Esther! A letter for you,
dear," said a small voice outside the bolted door,
and the missive was skilfully passed under it,
the bearer skipping away.

Esther snatched it from the ground. It was
not a short letter; but the contents appeared
to be comprehended at a glance.

It was her lover's letter, coming like an
answer to her prayer. Enough to say that George
had set forth, with all the illogical but
convincing arguments true passion will suggest, the
reasons that existed for a speedy termination ol
the present condition of suspense. He implored
her to place herself under the affectionate care
of her only relative, in the home he had
provided for the latter, to permit him to visit her
there, and to sanction the preparations for their
union at the earliest moment to which his
prayers might induce her to accede.

Thereupon began a fresh tumult in her soul.
Despite its passion, there was apparent in
George's letter an honest truth, before which
all doubts dwindled, and dispersed to air. The
temptation to listen to his pleading was strong,
while her own heart ceased not to whisper:
"Yield, yield; what would you more?" On the
other hand, her sense of delicacy recoiled from
the suddenness of the step. Their slight and
recent acquaintance, still more the fact of his
having so lately stood in the same relation
towards another, demanded delay. She would
pause upon it, and might Heaven direct her
judgment right!

Her meditations were interrupted by a tap
at the door, just sufficiently imperious to denote
the mistress of the house. Placing the letter in
her bosom, Esther hastened to admit her.

"Oh, we feared that you were unwell," began
Mrs. Grimble; " but you are really looking
better than usual. So I may say, without fear
of increasing your indisposition, what I came
about. Your care of the children, Miss Vann,
has considerably relaxed of late."

"Ma'am," faltered Esther, conscious that the
charge was not entirely without foundation.

"This must be amended, child," said Mrs.
Grimble, coldly pursuing her advantage.

"I —I have not been quite myself lately,"
replied Esther, pressing her hot hand upon her
brow.

"I have just made the remark that you look
even better than usual," said Mrs. Grimble,
statelily. "I will thank you not to contradict
me, Miss Vann." (Esther curtseyed.) "I do
not wish for any words with you. I have merely
to remind you that, in return for the peculiar
advantages you enjoy, in being at all times
treated as a member of my family, I have a
right to expect that your undivided interest and