第75部分(第4/7 页)

ust　make　a　finished　picture　of　it。　He　insisted；　too；　on　my　ing　the　next　day　to　spend　the　evening　at　Vale　Hall。

I　went。　I　found　it　a　large；　handsome　residence；　showing　abundant　evidences　of　wealth　in　the　proprietor。　Rosamond　was　full　of　glee　and　pleasure　all　the　time　I　stayed。　Her　father　was　affable；　and　when　he　entered　into　conversation　with　me　after　tea；　he　expressed　in　strong　terms　his　approbation　of　what　I　had　done　in　Morton　school；　and　said　he　only　feared；　from　what　he　saw　and　heard；　I　was　too　good　for　the　place；　and　ore　suitable。

“Indeed；”　cried　Rosamond；　“she　is　clever　enough　to　be　a　governess　in　a　high　family；　papa。”

I　thought　I　would　far　rather　be　where　I　am　than　in　any　high　family　in　the　land。　Mr。　Oliver　spoke　of　Mr。　Rivers—of　the　Rivers　family—　with　great　respect。　He　said　it　was　a　very　old　name　in　that　neighbourhood；　that　the　ancestors　of　the　house　were　wealthy；　that　all　Morton　had　once　belonged　to　them；　that　even　now　he　considered　the　representative　of　that　house　might；　if　he　liked；　make　an　alliance　with　the　best。　He　accounted　it　a　pity　that　so　fine　and　talented　a　young　man　should　have　formed　the　design　of　going　out　as　a　missionary；　it　was　quite　throwing　a　valuable　life　away。　It　appeared；　then；　that　her　father　would　throw　no　obstacle　in　the　way　of　Rosamond’s　union　with　St。　John。　Mr。　Oliver　evidently　regarded　the　young　clergyman’s　good　birth；　old　name；　and　sacred　profession　as　sufficient　pensation　for　the　want　of　fortune。

It　was　the　5th　of　November；　and　a　holiday。　My　little　servant；　after　helping　me　to　clean　my　house；　was　gone；　well　satisfied　with　the　fee　of　a　penny　for　her　aid。　All　about　me　was　spotless　and　bright—　scoured　floor；　polished　grate；　and　well…rubbed　chairs。　I　had　also　made　myself　neat；　and　had　now　the　afternoon　before　m