“It will relieve you very much,” she said, “and give you time to get out.”

“I shall never leave you,” he said, “no matter who comes.”

Several letters were written; my father gave himself unheard-of trouble; and after some weeks of doubt, hesitation and correspondence, a governess was selected for me.  She had been living with Lady Bucarest, and was most highly recommended; she was amiable, accomplished, good tempered and well qualified for the duties Lady Tayne wished her to fulfill.

“What a paragon!” cried my father, as he read through the list of virtues.

“I hope we shall not be disappointed,” said my mother.  “Oh, Laura, darling, if it could be, I would educate you entirely, and give you into no other hands.”

It was March when my governess—­by name Miss Sara Reinhart—­came.  I always associate her in my own mind with the leaden skies, the cold winds, the bleak rains and biting frosts of March.  She was to be with us on the seventh, and the whole of the day was like a tempest; the wind blew, the rain fell.  We could hear the rustling of the great boughs; the wind rolled down the great avenues and shook the window frames.

My mother’s room that day was the brightest in the house; cheery fire in the silver grate and the profusion of flowers made it so cheerful.  How many times during that day both my father and mother said: 

“What an uncomfortable journey Miss Reinhart will have!”

She ordered a good fire to be lighted in her bedroom and tea to be prepared for her.  The carriage was sent to the station with plenty of wraps, and every care was taken of the strange lady.  The wind was rolling like thunder through the great avenues, the tall trees bent under the fury of the blast; when the sound ceased I heard the carriage wheels, and going to my mother, who was reading, I said:  “She has come.”

My mother took my hand silently.  Why did we both look at each other?  What curious foreboding came to us both, that made us cling to each other?  Poor mother! poor child!

Some time afterward my father came in and said: 

“Will you see Miss Reinhart to-night, Beatrice, darling?”

She looked flushed and tired, but she answered, laughing quietly at her own nervousness: 

“I suppose I shall not sleep unless I do see her, Roland.  Yes, when she has taken her tea and had time to make herself quite comfortable, I shall be pleased to see her.”

Why did we mother and child, cling to each other as though some terrible danger were overtaking us?  It struck me that there was some little delay, and my father remained with the strange lady.