wever," said his mother.
"Everything will go better now."

Everything did go better after that with David. His troubles were not
over. His books gave him pain rather than pleasure, for a while, and it
needed a struggle for him to interest himself in the plans and pursuits
of Jem, and even of Violet. But he did not grow moody over his
failures, and by and by there came to be some good in life to him again,
and his mother's heart was set at rest about him, for she began to hope
that it was well with David in the best sense now.

During the first summer they saw very little of the Oswalds. They lived
quite at the other end of the town, in a house very different from the
"bridge house," as their cottage was called, and for the greater part of
the summer, the young people of the family had been away from home. But
in the autumn it was so arranged that Violet at least, was to see a
great deal of some of them. Mr Oswald had six children, four daughters
and two sons. His eldest daughter Ame had been mistress of the house
since her return from school, at the time of her mother's death. This
had happened several years ago. She was twenty-four years of age, very
clever and fond of society. She was engaged to be married, but she did
not intend to leave home immediately, from which indeed she could not
easily have been spared. They had much company always, and she had a
great deal to do in entertaining them, and led a very busy and, as she
thought, a very useful life in her father's house.

The next in age was Philip, but he was not at home. He was in his last
year at M-- University, and was to be home in the Spring. Selina came
next. She was one year younger than Violet, and would fain have
considered herself a grown-up young lady, and her education finished, if
her father and sister had agreed. Then came Frank, who was not very
strong, and whose eyes were still weak, and then Charlotte and Sarah,
girls of ten and twelve. It was to teach these two that Violet was to
go to Mr Oswald's house.

Mrs Inglis felt that the proposal had been made by Mr Oswald quite as
much with the thought of helping them as of benefiting his children, who
had before this time gone to a day-school in the neighbourhood. But she
did not refuse to let Violet go on that account. She believed her to be
fitted for the work. She knew her to be gentle and affectionate, yet
firm and conscientious, that she would be faithful in the performance