nerally in the holidays, and I confess I was
absolutely alarmed to see how pretty the child was growing, knowing how
great a disadvantage it often is. She was always a good girl, not
naturally so studious as could be wished, but docile, merry, gentle, a
favourite with every one, and peculiarly innocent and childish. I
wished her to remain a few years longer as teacher, but it so happened
that Lady Adelaide Egremont, coming to consult the head of the
establishment about a nursery-governess, saw Alice, and was so much
struck with her sweet face, which was all sunshine then, as to insist
on engaging her.'

'Ah! my dear sister, I remember her enthusiastic letter about her
pretty governess, and her boy's affection for her, an affection that
has lasted--'

'It seemed so safe. A clergyman's family in the country, and so kind a
lady at the head, that, though Alice had been educated for a superior
governess, it appeared the best beginning she could have. And she was
very happy, and met with great kindness. Only, unfortunately, Lady
Adelaide was delicate, and for many weeks entirely confined to the
sofa. Mr. Egremont's elder brother was much there. He seemed to my
poor inexperienced child quite elderly, and his attentions like those
of--of an old uncle--she told me afterwards--'

'He must really have been over forty--'

'No doubt my poor Alice was unguarded. We know what a merry, happy,
childish girl may be, but I never heard that her conduct was even
censured while she remained at Baxley, though I find that Captain
Egremont used to join them in their walks, under pretext of playing
with the children. Then she was sent to Freshwater with the two eldest
children during Lady Adelaide's confinement, and there, most
unjustifiably, Captain Egremont continually visited them from his
yacht, and offered to take them out in it. Alice knew she ought not to
go without a married lady on board, and he brought a Mr. and Mrs.
Houghton to call, who were very kind and caressing to her and the
children, so that she thought all was right. Oh! Lady Kirkaldy, I
don't mean to defend her, I daresay she was very giddy and silly, she
reproaches herself, poor dear, but I do say that a wicked advantage was
taken of her innocence and ignorance. She says that she had begun to
grow a little uneasy at the way people looked when Captain Egremont
joined them on the beach; and the nurse, a German, said something that
she could not understand. On