CHAPTER V.

A FRIEND IN NEED.

One day, as Miss Pillbody was riding up Broadway, in tending to visit a Teachers’ Agency for the sixteenth time, she accidentally made the acquaintance of a middle-aged lady, who talked a great deal upon the slightest provocation, trifled sadly with grammar and pronunciation, and was excessively friendly and amiable.  The diamonds in her ears and on her fingers, and her overdone and gaudy style of dressing, were some indication, though not a convincing one, that she was a woman of wealth; and Miss Pillbody made bold to ask her if she knew anybody who wanted a private teacher in her family.

The lady said she did not, “unless,” she added, laughing very loud at the humor of the suggestion, “you come into my family, and learn me something.”

The remark was unpremeditated, but, the moment it was made, the lady seemed to be greatly struck with its force, and immediately followed it up with the question, “Do you s’pose you could learn grammar and pronunciation, and how to talk French, to a grown-up woman like me?” Miss Pillbody thought the lady with the diamonds was joking, and laughed by way of reply.  “But I am ra-ally in earnest,” continued the lady, thoughtfully, turning three heavy cluster rings on her little left finger.  “Ye see, my early eddication was rather poor, ’cos I was poor then; but my old man made a spec’ in tobacco, last year, and now I’m pooty well off, and live in good s’ciety.  I kinder feel the want of grammar, French, and a few o’ them things.  I like your face and your manners, and if you can learn me ’em, I’ll give you ten dollars a week to come to my house one hour every day, and be my private schoolmistress.  It’ll be rather hard, I s’pose, to learn an old dog new tricks; but there is no harm a-tryin’.”

Notwithstanding the oddity of the proposition, Miss Pillbody saw by the lady’s face that she meant what she said.  “I think I understand English grammar, and French, and the other branches usually taught at academies,” she replied, “and should be very happy to accept your offer.”

“Then consider the bargain closed,” returned the lady.  “Here is my ‘dress” (handing her a card), “and you may come to-morrer mornin’, at ten o’clock, if that’ll suit you.  I have no children, and the old man will be out at that time, and we shall be as snug as two bugs in a rug, ye see.”

Miss Pillbody was delighted with the sudden prospect of an honest living thus opened to her, and she only feared that she would not be able to do enough for her money.  So, after she had again thanked the lady for her kindness, she said: 

“I think I could give you lessons on the piano, madam—­unless you understand that instrument better than I do.”