31*5 The Leather Plater, 



iiig, " Why, ] declare that you are looking more beautiful than ever, 

 child." 



Annie soon unfolded her errand to her old friend, who knew of 

 just the very situation to suit her. A lady down in Hampshire 

 w^anted a governess for her two little daughters. She wrote olFby 

 that night's post, a favourable answer was received, and in a week 

 Annie was installed at Woodbine Cottage, one of the sweetest 

 spots in Hampshire, as governess to two little girls, who soon 

 learned to love her as an elder sister. Here Annie remained for 

 six months, and was treated with such uniform kindness by all, that 

 ■she might perhaps have almost forgotten the destiny she had 

 Jeft home to fulfil, and been content to remain at the cottage — at 

 •any rate till the education of her young charges was completed — 

 had not a little circumstance taken place which led to the accom- 

 plishment of her fate. 



The lady, who was a widow, had gone away for a few days to 

 visit a neighbouring friend, leaving Annie at home ; during the 

 lady's absence the cottage was honoured with a visit from her 

 nephew, a good-looking fellow enough, but one of those shallow- 

 brained fools wdio think that every woman they see must be at once 

 struck with them, and, in fact, whose whole life passes without a 

 single idea, save that of flirting with and saying smart things to 

 every pretty girl they meet. Of course he w^as immediately struck 

 with Annie's beauty, and commenced a flirtation with her from the 

 very first evening they met. To this sort of thing Annie made not 

 the slightest objection ; his manner was sufficiently respectful — that 

 was enough for her 5 and at a quiet bit of playful badinage and 

 persiflage she was fully his match. But his manner became more 

 familiar. He was one of that mean, low, spiritless class, who con- 

 sider that a poor governess, because she is a friendly dependent, is 

 ''fair game," and must feel flattered by the attentions of any one 

 whose circumstances happened to be better than her own. He, 

 however, did not know Annie yet 3 but he soon found out his 

 mistake. He considered himself very lucky in having met with so 

 handsome a companion as Annie to dispel the gloom of a dull 



