lessings?--yes, I say
BLESSINGS. And I am--I am, Lady Kicklebury--to the mother--of--that
angel who is gone [points to the picture]. It was your sainted daughter
left us--left my child to the care of Mr. Milliken, and--and you, who
are now his guardian angel I may say. You ARE, Lady Kicklebury--you
are. I say to my girl, Julia, Lady Kicklebury is Mr. Milliken's guardian
angel, is YOUR guardian angel--for without you could she keep her place
as governess to these darling children? It would tear her heart in two
to leave them, and yet she would be forced to do so. You know that some
one--shall I hesitate to say whom I MEAN--that Mr. Milliken's mother,
excellent lady though she is, does not love my child because YOU love
her. You DO love her, Lady Kicklebury, and oh! a mother's fond heart
pays you back! But for you, my poor Julia must go--go, and leave the
children whom a dying angel confided to her!

LADY K.--Go! no, never! not whilst I am in this house, Mrs. Prior. Your
daughter is a well-behaved young woman: you have confided to me her long
engagement to Lieutenant--Lieutenant What-d'you-call'im, in the Indian
service. She has been very, very good to my grandchildren--she brought
them over from Naples when my--my angel of an Arabella died there, and I
will protect Miss Prior.

MRS. PRIOR.--Bless you, bless you, noble, admirable woman! Don't take it
away! I must, I WILL kiss your dear, generous hand! Take a mother's, a
widow's blessings, Lady Kicklebury--the blessings of one who has known
misfortune and seen better days, and thanks heaven--yes, heaven!--for
the protectors she has found!

LADY K.--You said--you had--several children, I think, my good Mrs.
Prior?

MRS. PRIOR.--Three boys--one, my eldest blessing, is in a
wine-merchant's office--ah, if Mr. Milliken WOULD but give him an order!
an order from THIS house! an order from Lady Kicklebury's son-in-law!--

LADY K.--It shall be done, my good Prior--we will see.

MRS. PRIOR.--Another, Adolphus, dear fellow! is in Christ's Hospital.
It was dear, good Mr. Milliken's nomination. Frederick is at Merchant
Taylor's: my darling Julia pays his schooling. Besides, I have two
girls--Amelia, quite a little toddles, just the size, though not so
beautiful--but in a mother's eyes all children are lovely, dear Lady
Kicklebury--just the size of your dear granddaughter, whose clothes
would fit her, I am sure. And my second, Charlotte, a girl as tall as
your ladyship, though no