s, I will, with my mamma's permission, become
little Harriet's governess; I am quite sure it will do us both a great
deal of good, for she will every hour remind me how much more naughty and
tiresome and provoking I used to be when I first came over, and teach me to
endure with patience, and remove with gentleness and firmness, the errors
which, in so young and engaging a child, claim my compassion rather than
blame. I shall love her very dearly, I am certain, because I see she is of
a loving temper, notwithstanding her faults; and I am certain, if she feels
as I do, she will love me for curing her of them; then I will teach her all
I know, and as I shall improve every day, you know I shall improve her
also! Dear mamma, pray let me try! I do not know any way in which a girl
like me can show gratitude to God so effectually, as in endeavouring to
make my fellow-creature as happy as myself, and especially my own little
countrywoman."

The tenderness and earnestness with which this request was urged, as
well as the excellent motive, ensured its success; and in a few days the
mother and daughter removed together to Brompton, and a regular system of
education was entered upon, which was indeed attended with the most happy
effects, although it is probable that Matilda found her new office abound
with trials, of which she could form no idea until experience taught her.
It is however certain, that she received as much benefit as she
communicated, and that she learned the lessons of virtue whilst imparting
them to her little pupil, who proved a very tractable and intelligent
child, after she had become weaned from those habits which were in a great
measure inseparable from her late situation in life. It is probable that
but for this stimulus to her exertions, Matilda would have neglected her
education, and sunk into indolent habits, for want of those excitements
which she had found in the society of Ellen and her brothers; whereas now
she endeavoured, at every meeting with this dear family, to exhibit some
improvement or attainment in her pupil, and these were inevitably connected
with her own.

But notwithstanding the advantages Matilda possessed, and her earnest
desire to profit by them, and even the actual improvement she evinced, our
young readers must not suppose either that she was perfect, or that she had
attained that standard of excellence of which she was capable. Many a
moment of petulance occurred with her provoking l