520 THE MANSE AND ITS INMATES. 



thought she saw an opening equally advantageous. She had an 

 acquaintance, a Mr. Hurst, an attorney — or, as his wife chose to de- 

 signate him, "a chancery solicitor" — who from considerable know- 

 ledge of Scotch law, and an extensive connection, through his mother, 

 with Scotch advocates, was often employed in appeal cases from the 

 decisions of the Court of Session in Edinburgh. This brought him 

 occasionally into contact with Scottish gentlemen of rank and fortune ; 

 and being a worthy, obliging, sensible man, his good offices had 

 sometimes been engaged to look out for an accomplished English 

 lady, with a pure accent, to undertake the education of their child- 

 ren. He readily promised Mrs. Somerive to interest himself in 

 procuring some eligible appointment of the kind for Miss Watson ; 

 only stipulating, at the instigation of his wife, that she should during 

 the ensuing twelvemonth devote her valuable talents to " finishing 

 off" his two youngest daughters, who were to quit school entirely at 

 the next vacation; and offering, in requital of those services, an ad- 

 vance often pounds upon her present salary. 



Mrs. Hurst was a very happy woman, though not blessed with 

 sons; but, as she and Mr. Hurst observed, sons-in-lais of the same 

 profession answered the purpose just as well ; and she had six 

 daughters, whose ages had fallen so conveniently that they had been 

 educated in pairs, first for seven or eight years at a cheap boarding 

 school in Norfolk, and afterwards one year's "finishing off" with a 

 private governess at home. The plan had been eminently success- 

 ful. The four elder Misses Hurst had come home pleased them- 

 selves, had pleased their father and mother, and other people too, for 

 they all married to their own satisfaction and that of their parents — 

 none of them perhaps very difficult to please. 



The two younger were now returning home, to tread, it was to be 

 hoped, the same happy path ; for,J as their mamma sapiently re- 

 marked, since Dolly and Dossy, and Penny and Priscy had done so 

 well, it was but right and reasonable, and just and proper, and all 

 that sort of thing, that Hatty and Shatty should do the same ; and to 

 have a governess from Mrs. Somerive's was to be at the top of the 

 tree at once. 



Ruth opposed, as strongly as deference and delicacy would allow 

 her to do, the self-denying kindness ofher excellent friend; and when 

 she got into a City coach, and, after being set down at the Bank, 

 walked to Throgmorton Street, to consult her parents, her hopes 

 grew stronger every minute that, quiet and retired as their own, lives 

 w^ere, the almost maternal protection of Mrs. Somerive would seem 

 in their eyes a thousand times more desirable than the gayer dwell- 

 ing of a thriving attorney. 



No sooner, however, did it appear that an additional ten pounds 

 a year was to be obtained by the exchange than her unwillingness to 

 make it was assailed by reproaches, as coarse as they were unmerited, 

 on the score of selfishness, ingratitude, self-conceit, and being 

 never contented ; so inconsistent and unreasonable are frequently the 

 charges brought by the narrow-minded and mercenary against those 

 who think differently from themselves. She was reminded of tiie 

 fortune that had been expended upon her education, — that she had 



