322 THE MANSE AND ITS INMATES. 



that lier own anangeinent in the distribution of time and employ- 

 ment was not the best that could jiossibly be made. 



Thus happy in her good intentions, or rather in her self-sufficiency, 

 she arrang-ed every thing for Miss Watson, Hatty, and Shatty, even 

 to the portions of time to be allotted to their several accomplishments, 

 though her own education had never extended beyond a very mode- 

 rate share of instruction in reading, writing, and needlework. Mrs. 

 Hurst possessed such restless activity, supported by such unbroken 

 health and strength, that it appeared as if there never was a moment 

 in which her eye was not every where and upon every one ; so that 

 there was no hope of eluding her vigilance, had Ruth been a person 

 to make the trial. 



At six o'clock in the morning, during the whole year, the house- 

 maid informed the governess and young ladies that the school-room 

 was ready for their reception — an intimation expected to be followed 

 by their immediately rising. If a cold or a headache influenced the 

 person afflicted by it to remain a little longer in bed — as was two or 

 three times the case with Ruth in the early part of her residence in 

 the house — the family apothecary, who was paid by the year, was 

 called in, and whatever he ordered was necessarily submitted to, as 

 Mrs. Hurst superintended the application of his remedies herself. 

 At eight their breakfast was brought to them, and at a quarter after 

 one they were expected to be in the dining-room, equipped for an 

 airing, after partaking of a slight luncheon. These airings were 

 among the most tormenting of Ruth's trials ; to sit in the carriage 

 while Mrs. Hurst made calls, or to lounge in shops and show-rooms, 

 to the visible annoyance of haberdashers and milliners, and that not 

 only occasionally, but constantly, was such a waste of the time and 

 the talents which it was her wish as much as her duty to improve that 

 she could scarcely think her compliance justifiable. 



Sometimes their course was by Holborn, Newgate Street, Cheap- 

 side, and Cornhill, penetrating as far as Whitechapel and the 

 Minories, returning by Gracechurch Street, to pick up a cheap bar- 

 gain at Flint's, St. Paul's Churchyard, Ludgate Hill, and Fleet 

 Street. On other days they took their more genteel course, by the 

 Strand, Pall Mall, St. James' Street, Piccadilly, and Bond Street, to 

 return by Oxford Street. 



Then they saw sights of every description — all the exhibitions, 

 public or private, to which money or Mr. Hurst's interest could pro- 

 cure them admittance, collections of paintings and panoramas, 

 museums of all sort? and menageries, St. Paul's Cathedral, West- 

 minster Abbey, the Monument, and the Tower of London. They 

 attended auction rooms, both fashionable and unfashionable, sales of 

 household furniture, and meetings for distressed weavers. Missionary 

 Societies, Bible Societies, and Societies for the Abolition of the Slave 

 Trade. They visited all the nursery gardens within ten miles of 

 London, and knew which had the best show of auriculas and tulips. 

 They saw all the palaces, and even went so far as to Windsor Castle, 

 attended not only Ascot and Epsom Races, but every thing of the 

 kind they ever heard of, dined under the Fairlop Oak, and visited 

 Croyden, Camberwell, Edmonton, and several other fairs, not except- 



