the very existence of her fisherman husband and children.  No!  Isabel was not come to that! but she was almost ashamed to enjoy her extra hour’s repose; and then the leisurely breakfast—­nay, even the hot rolls and clear coffee were appreciated; and she sighed as she called up the image of the breakfast over an hour ago, the grim kettle, the bad butter, the worse fire, and James, cold and hurried, with Kitty on his knee gnawing a lump of crust.  It was a contrast to Lady Conway reading her letters and discussing engagements with comfortable complacency, and Virginia making suggestions, and Louisa’s grave bright eyes consulting hers, and Miss King quietly putting in a remark, and the anticipation of Walter’s return, as if he were the only person wanting.

The sisters always resented their mother’s habit of talking of ’poor Isabel,’ regarding her as the happiest of women; and they were confirmed in their belief by seeing her looking exceedingly well and handsome, with perhaps a little more dignity and a sweeter smile.  Virginia loved to snatch private interviews with Miss King, to express her confidence in dear Isabel’s felicity, in the infallibility and other perfections of James, and in the surpassing cleverness of little Catharine; and Louisa was always sighing to behold the twins.  But, to the delight of the school-room, the chapel in the valley was produced in a complete form, and a very pretty romance it was; but the hermit and the brilliant denouement were quite a shock to the young ladies, just when their tears were prepared, and Virginia was almost angry.

‘Oh, my dear, there is trouble enough in the world!’ said Isabel; ’Hubert and Adeline have been my companions so long, that at least I must leave them happy.’

‘Indeed,’ said Miss King, ’I am almost surprised that you have been able to finish them at all, with so much re-writing.’

To her surprise, Isabel blushed, and her answer partook of self-defence.  ’James is so busy, and the children so young, that this has been my great resource.  When my little girls are older, I must begin educating in earnest.  I want to talk over Madame Neckar’s book with you, Miss King.’

‘All systems begin alike from infant obedience, I believe,’ said the governess.

‘Yes,’ said Isabel, ’little Catharine is obedience itself with us.  It is curious to see how well she knows the difference between us and the nurses.  There are great tempests upstairs, and her papa takes them very much to heart.  He always has her downstairs when he is at home; and he has accustomed her to so much attention, that there is no doing anything while she is by, or I would have her more with me.’

The self-justifying tone rather puzzled Miss King.  She noted likewise that Isabel was backward in entering into details of her home life, and that she never said a word to encourage her sister’s wishes to visit her at Northwold.  Knowing Isabel as the governess did, she was sure that she would not merely talk of things on the surface, if her spirit were fully content.  Only once did she go any deeper, and that was as she took up a little book of religious poetry of which she had been very fond.  ‘Ah!’ she said, ’I don’t feel these things as I used.  I think practical life dulls one.’