“Exactly, that was enough, for me.  I perfectly understand the meaning of Mr. Touchett’s recommendations, and if what Fanny wants is a commonplace sort of upper nursemaid, I dare say it would do.”  And Rachel leant back, applied herself to her wood carving, and virtually retired from the discussion.

“One sister is a great invalid,” said Grace, “quite a cripple, and the other goes out as a daily governess.  They are a clergyman’s daughters, and once were very well off, but they lost everything through some speculation of their brother.  I believe he fled the country under some terrible suspicion of dishonesty; and though no one thought they had anything to do with it, their friends dropped them because they would not give him up, nor believe him guilty, and a little girl of his lives with them.”

“Poor things!” exclaimed Lady Temple.  “I should very much like to employ this one.  How very sad.”

“Mrs. Grey told me that her children had never done so well with any one,” said Mrs. Curtis.  “She wanted to engage Miss Williams permanently, but could not induce her to leave her sister, or even to remove her to London, on account of her health.”

“Do you know her, Grace?” asked Fanny.

“I have called once or twice, and have been very much pleased with the sick sister; but Rachel does not fancy that set, you see.  I meet the other at the Sunday school, I like her looks and manner very much, and she is always at the early service before her work.”

“Just like a little mauve book!” muttered Rachel.

Fanny absolutely stared.  “You go, don’t you, Rachel?  How we used to wish for it!”

“You have wished and we have tried,” said Rachel, with a sigh.

“Yes, Rachel,” said Grace; “but with all drawbacks, all disappointments in ourselves, it is a great blessing.  We would not be without it.”

“I could not be satisfied in relinquishing it voluntarily,” said Rachel, “but I am necessarily one of the idle.  Were I one of the occupied, laborare est orare would satisfy me, and that poor governess ought to feel the same.  Think of the physical reaction of body on mind, and tell me if you could have the barbarity of depriving that poor jaded thing of an hour’s sleep, giving her an additional walk, fasting, in all weathers, and preparing her to be savage with the children.”

“Perhaps it refreshes her, and hinders her from being cross.”

“Maybe she thinks so; but if she have either sense or ear, nothing would so predispose her to be cross as the squeaking of Mr. Touchett’s penny-whistle choir.”

“Poor Mr. Touchett,” sighed Mrs. Curtis; “I wish he would not make such ambitious attempts.”

“But you like the choral service,” said Fanny, feeling as if everything had turned round.  “When all the men of a regiment chant together you cannot think how grand it is, almost finer than the cathedral.”

“Yes, where you can do it,” said Rachel, “but not where you can’t.”