se on the subject of her
daughters' education, no one could have an idea of the trouble she had
had in getting the plan arranged. It had seemed a pity that the
Rowlands and her children should not learn together: it was such an
advantage for children to learn together! But Mrs Rowland had made a
thousand difficulties. After breakfast, she would show her young
friends the room which she had proposed should be the schoolroom,--as
airy and advantageous in every way as could be imagined: but Mrs
Rowland had objected that she could not have Matilda and George come out
in all weathers,--as if they would have had to walk a mile, instead of
just the sweep of the gravel-walk! Mrs Rowland had proposed that her
back-parlour should be the schoolroom: but really it was not to be
thought of--so small and close, and such a dull room for Miss Young!
The gentlemen had been obliged to take it up at last. Nobody could ever
find out which of them it was that had thought of the summerhouse,
though she was satisfied in her own mind that Mr Rowland was not in the
habit of having such clever ideas; but, however, it was soon settled.
The summer-house was so exactly on the boundary-line between the two
gardens, that really no objection had been left for Mrs Rowland to
make. She came as near to it as she could, however; for she had had the
walk covered in at great expense from her garden door to the
summer-house, when everybody knew she did not mind her children getting
wet at other times on the grass before the dew was off.

"And the covered way is quite an eyesore from the drawing-room windows,"
added Sophia.

"Quite," said Mrs Grey; "and it can be seen from ours, as I dare say
you observed last night. But I have no doubt that entered into her
calculations when she had it made."

Mr Grey inquired about the arrangements for the morning, and whether he
could be of any service. It happened to be a leisure morning with him,
and he did not know when he might have another at command. Sophia
reminded her father that it would be impossible for the ladies of the
family to go out, when they were expecting the neighbours to call: and
this brought on another speculation as to who would call,--and
especially when the Rowlands might be looked for. Hester and Margaret
believed they could have settled this matter; but they forbore to speak
of what they had overheard. They began to wonder whether the subject of
Mrs Rowland was to be served up with