eat of dominion.
But if the convulsion must come--as it must some day--Chat wanted it
dramatic--matter for gossip and for flutters! To her taste Octon
fulfilled that aesthetic requirement.

Naturally Chat saw Jenny at the Simpsons' from her own point of
view--through herself--and by that avenue approached the topic.

"Of course things are very much changed for the better in most ways, Mr.
Austin--if they'll only last. The comforts!--And, of course, the salary!
Well, it's not the thing to talk about that. Still I daresay you
yourself sometimes think--? Yes, of course, one must consider it. But
there were features of the rectory life which I confess I miss. We had
always a very cheerful tea, and supper, too, was sociable. In fact one
never wanted for a chat. Here I'm thrown very much on my own resources.
Jenny is out or busy, and Mrs. Bennet--the housekeeper, you know--is
reserved and, of course, not at her ease with me. And then there was the
authority!" (Was Chat also among the Caesars?) "Poor Chat had a great
deal of authority at the rectory, Mr. Austin--yes--she had! Mrs. Simpson
an invalid--the rector busy or not caring to meddle--the girls were left
entirely to me. My word was law." She shook her head regretfully over
the change in her position.

"We all like that, Miss Chatters, when we can get it!"

"Jenny, of course, was different--and that made it difficult sometimes.
Besides being the eldest, she was very well paid for and, although not
pampered and, I must say, considering all things as I now know them,
very ill-supplied with pocket money, there were orders that she should
ride every day. Two horses and the hostler from the Bull every
day--except Sundays! It couldn't but make a difference, especially with
a girl of Jenny's disposition--not altogether an easy one, Mr. Austin.
It had to be give-and-take between us. If she obeyed me, there were many
little things I could do--having, as I say, the authority. If she would
do her lessons well--and her example had great influence on the
others--I didn't trouble to see what books she had in her bedroom (with
the other girls I did), nor even ask questions if she stayed out a
little late for supper. Of course we had to be very much on our guard;
it didn't do to make the Simpson girls jealous."

"You had a little secret understanding between yourselves?"

"Never, Mr. Austin! I wouldn't have done such a thing with any of my
pupils. It would be subversive of discipli