ter off than at Bishop Mompert's. I am known
to both him and Mrs. Mompert, and that of course is an advantage to
you. Our correspondence has gone on favorably; but I cannot be
surprised that Mrs. Mompert wishes to see you before making an absolute
engagement. She thinks of arranging for you to meet her at Wanchester
when she is on her way to town. I dare say you will feel the interview
rather trying for you, my dear; but you will have a little time to
prepare your mind."

"Do you know _why_ she wants to see me, uncle?" said Gwendolen, whose
mind had quickly gone over various reasons that an imaginary Mrs.
Mompert with three daughters might be supposed to entertain, reasons
all of a disagreeable kind to the person presenting herself for
inspection.

The rector smiled. "Don't be alarmed, my dear. She would like to have a
more precise idea of you than my report can give. And a mother is
naturally scrupulous about a companion for her daughters. I have told
her you are very young. But she herself exercises a close supervision
over her daughters' education, and that makes her less anxious as to
age. She is a woman of taste and also of strict principle, and objects
to having a French person in the house. I feel sure that she will think
your manners and accomplishments as good as she is likely to find; and
over the religious and moral tone of the education she, and indeed the
bishop himself, will preside."

Gwendolen dared not answer, but the repression of her decided dislike
to the whole prospect sent an unusually deep flush over her face and
neck, subsiding as quickly as it came. Anna, full of tender fears, put
her little hand into her cousin's, and Mr. Gascoigne was too kind a man
not to conceive something of the trial which this sudden change must be
for a girl like Gwendolen. Bent on giving a cheerful view of things, he
went on, in an easy tone of remark, not as if answering supposed
objections--

"I think so highly of the position, that I should have been tempted to
try and get it for Anna, if she had been at all likely to meet Mrs.
Mompert's wants. It is really a home, with a continuance of education
in the highest sense: 'governess' is a misnomer. The bishop's views are
of a more decidedly Low Church color than my own--he is a close friend
of Lord Grampian's; but, though privately strict, he is not by any
means narrow in public matters. Indeed, he has created as little
dislike in his diocese as any bishop on the be