parting what she had learned in the days of
prosperity. But, distrustful of herself, she sometimes doubted if she
were competent to undertake the task of tuition.

She might have taught music, but, for want of an instrument, she was
sadly out of practice, and feared that this, with her youth, and her want
of experience, would be a hindrance to her success; and so she found it.
Yet something must be done; for Mary's humility of heart was not that
inert apathy of idleness, that is sometimes by foolish, unthinking people
mistaken for it; and I suppose, in the eyes of the vain and worldly,
there was some degradation in Mary Mannering employing several hours of
the day in needlework, for which, at the end of the week, she received a
few shillings; but the gentle girl herself never fell that there could be
disgrace in earning this trifle honestly, however humbly; although, in
one of Harriet's letters, she professed to be quite "shocked" at the
necessity of such a thing, while she made it a plea for her own prolonged
absence, saying that there was one less to support while she was away. It
would seem that it never occurred to her to contribute her share of
industry by the labour either of head or hand.

Alas! her heart was indeed becoming hardened by her selfish pride.

Mary and her father had one evening been enjoying their usual walk, when
one of those sudden storms, which often succeed sultry weather, came on.
They were not within a mile of any house where they could ask for
shelter; but they chanced to be near a wide arch which had been
constructed across the road for the convenience of a railway line. Above
them, rolled the hissing engine and its long train, and glad enough were
they of the protection the archway afforded. They had not, however, been
there many minutes before they perceived an open carriage coming rapidly
along the road, and as, just when it reached the point where Mr.
Mannering and his daughter had found shelter, the storm increased to its
utmost violence, the elder of the two gentlemen, whom the carriage
contained, desired the coachman to draw up under the archway until the
pouring rain should have somewhat abated. The gentlemen were Dr. Vernon,
a celebrated physician, and his son.

I should have told you before that Mary was not considered so handsome as
her sister, and, as you know, she had not the advantage of gay and
fashionable attire; but both the gentlemen have often said since that
there