Matilda’s idea, that their having a governess was a point determined on,
proved more correct than her hasty conclusions generally did. Mr. Howard
had been for some time aware that the mode of life which he must pursue
in England would prevent him giving that undivided attention to Leila
which his island home had afforded him, and which every day was becoming
more necessary in the formation of her inquiring mind and impetuous
character. He felt that Nurse, with all her fond affection, in her
attempts to rule, was only fostering in his child a spirit of opposition
and self-will; and that Leila was beginning to think in many things she
knew better than Nurse, and that she did right to reject counsel, which,
though always well intended, was often not judiciously given. Though
resolved not to yield to the feeling, he had been too long accustomed to
the exclusive society of his child, not to be aware that there would be
many occasions in which the presence of a third person would prove
irksome to him, and it was therefore with real gratitude that he
listened to Mrs. Stanley’s proposal, that the intended governess should
reside under their roof, yet still have the joint charge of the cousins.
“The distance was so short,” she observed, “not two miles, it would only
be healthful exercise for Leila to walk when the day was fine, and in
bad weather she could easily be sent to them in the carriage. She should
take care that Leila was always at home to dine with her papa when he
was alone, and to read and sing to him in the evenings, as she had been
accustomed to do.”
When Mr. Howard sent for Leila next day to communicate this
intelligence, she entered his room with an unusually grave expression;
the dreaded idea of a governess had been haunting her imagination the
whole morning, and gaining strength every minute. She advanced slowly,
and taking her papa’s hand in hers, she looked up anxiously into his
eyes:--“Is it a governess, papa?” she said, “is it? Oh, tell me quick.”
“My dear child,” Mr. Howard answered, as he stooped down and kissed her
forehead, “my dear, dear child, what is all this? Why do you look at me
in this piteous manner? Indeed you must not agitate yourself in this
way; you must not let your imagination get the better of you; it
certainly was on this subject I wished to talk to you; but is the idea
of a governess so very frightful to you?”
“No, papa; perhaps she is not frightful, but you know I never saw one;
perhaps she is like other ladies, but then you know she will be always
there, always sticking to me; Matilda said something which made me know
that; always _sticking_, papa; and then I shall never be alone with you.
No more nice chats with your little friend.” Her voice failed, she could
not continue.
Mr. Howard looked at her anxiously; “Leila, my dear child, you distress
me; if you allow yourself to get into this way of anticipating imaginary
evils, you will enervate your mind, and unfit yourself to bear as you
ought to do the real trials of life; remember who says, ‘Sufficient unto
the day is the evil thereof.’ Now listen to me; I can see that Matilda
has made you aware that you are to have a governess, and all the morning
you have probably been working yourself up with the idea of suffering
from what I trust may prove the greatest blessing to you. I cannot now
devote my mornings to you as I did in the island; I must frequently be
absent, and you are now of an age to require superior instruction to
that of your faithful and affectionate nurse; but you will still be my
little friend; in the evenings you will sing and read to me as you used
to do, and we shall always dine together.”
Leila’s face brightened. “O, what a comfort!” she exclaimed: then added,
“but I don’t know that I shall be quite comfortable. My governess won’t
like dining by herself; she will be melancholy.”
“Now, dear child, you are again running on before the point, though I am
glad that now it is that you are anxious for your governess’ comfort:
but she is not to be exclusively your governess, Leila, and she is not
to reside at Woodlands. Your aunt has most kindly proposed that you
should spend the mornings with your cousins, and be educated with them.
We are to breakfast together early as we used to do; when fine, you are
to walk there immediately after breakfast, or be sent in the carriage
when the weather is bad; and by five o’clock you are to be home to dine
with your papa. I give you a general invitation to dinner, Miss Leila
Howard, and pray give me a favourable answer.”
“Papa, papa, how delightful you are to me,” Leila exclaimed; “all my
fears, all my sorrows; where are they? You are like the sun to me, papa;
the sun chasing away the clouds, and now there is nothing but the blue
sky and my beautiful governess.”
Mr. Howard smiled; “And who told you she was to be beautiful?” he
inquired.
“Nobody, papa; but I think she will be, and I am sure I shall like her
so much.”
“I hope indeed that you will like her, my love; for if your aunt
succeeds in the application she is about to make, your governess is
likely to prove a very estimable person; but I don’t suppose she ever
was beautiful, and she can’t be very young now.”
Leila’s countenance fell. “As old as the hills, I reckon,” she
ejaculated, in a very low voice.
But her papa caught the words: “‘As old as the hills, I _reckon_,’” he
repeated; “Leila, from whom have you caught up that phrase?”
“From Peggy Dobie,” she replied.
“From Peggy Dobie; but, my love, have I not told you that I do not wish
you to acquire Peggy Dobie’s mode of expressing yourself? I shall regret
my promise of allowing Peggy to remove to Woodlands, if you are to adopt
her phrases, and try to imitate her mode of speaking.”
“But, papa, I promise you I will not, and I dare say our governess would
not like me to speak in that way either. I hope she will come to us very
soon; how soon do you think, papa? in a few days?--our governess, I
mean. I know Peggy Dobie cannot be here so soon, or my pets either: how
delightful it will be when they all arrive, what a world of happiness it
will be then!”
“My dear Leila, I have already told you that I hope this lady, if we
succeed in engaging her, may prove a real blessing and advantage to you;
but you must not allow your imagination to run away with you in this
way, or suppose that you are immediately to find her in every way
delightful; she is a person who has experienced severe trials; her
husband lost a large fortune by the failure of a bank with which he was
connected; he died soon after, leaving her and one little girl totally
unprovided for. Her sister has taken this little girl to be educated
with her own children, and Mrs. Roberts has for some time past been
looking out for a situation as governess. Your aunt has a high idea of
her principles, and was much struck by the truly Christian way in which
she has borne up under her misfortunes; and having resided several years
abroad, she speaks both French and Italian with facility, and is besides
an excellent musician. All this makes her a most desirable person, but
the sorrows she has gone through may probably make her graver than you
may at first think agreeable; and you must remember, besides, that a
governess has an arduous task to perform, and many difficulties to
combat.”
“What difficulties, papa?”
“The difficulties, my love, of having three little girls to correct, to
control, and to instruct.”
Leila repeated the word _correct_.
“Yes, my love,” Mr. Howard continued, “Mrs. Roberts would be unworthy of
our confidence, and neglectful of her duty, if she did not correct your
faults.”
“But, papa, she would only have two to correct: Selina is quite perfect;
don’t you think so, papa?”
“No, my love; I know no one in this world who is perfect, and Selina,
though several years older than you are, is still very young, and
requires much care and instruction to form her character; but she has
fewer faults than any other little girl I know--she is indeed singularly
admirable; Mrs. Roberts, I have no doubt, will think herself very
fortunate to have such a pupil.”
“And what will she think about me, papa?” she anxiously inquired.
“Why, she will probably think that she has got rather an impetuous
little woman to manage, one who often allows her imagination to get the
better of her.” But seeing Leila’s downcast face, he added,--“yet I feel
sure also that she will not be long of loving my little girl, though she
is not _perfect_; and now Leila,” he continued, “have you any idea of
what is to be done to-day?”
“No, papa, I have no idea. Are we to begin our lessons again? Oh, no! I
see you have a plan--I see it in your face. Do tell me: I am sure you
have something pleasant to tell.”
“Yes,” Mr. Howard answered, “I think you will like the arrangement for
this forenoon. I have just been proposing to your aunt that we should
visit Woodlands, that you should see your future home, my child; and we
have settled that you young folks are to walk there with Nurse and Amy,
and I have ordered the open carriage to drive your uncle and aunt; we
shall probably be there first to receive you.”
“Papa, how delightful! May I run and tell Selina and Matilda the good
news? and Alfred, may he go too?”
“Certainly, my love.”
“Well then, I am off--how delightful to have so much to tell; and I may
speak about our governess also, papa, may I not?”
“Yes, my love, you may; but your aunt has probably by this time
mentioned the subject to your cousins; I know she intended doing so this
morning.”