The Clever Woman of the Family - Page 173/364

"Bought it!"

"Yes; he says, any way, his object is to be near Miss Williams. Well,

I cannot think how it is to end, so near the title as he is, and her

sister a governess, and then that dreadful business about her brother,

and the little girl upon her hands. Dear me, I wish Fanny had any one

else for a governess."

"So do not I," said Rachel. "I have the greatest possible admiration

for Ermine Williams, and I do not know which I esteem most, her for her

brave, cheerful, unrepining unselfishness, or him for his constancy and

superiority to all those trumpery considerations. I am glad to have the

watching of them. I honour them both."

Yes, and Rachel honoured herself still more for being able to speak all

this freely and truly out of the innermost depths of her candid heart.