. Hawkshaw was an alderman's lady, who
lived in a fine house, and had fine clothes and fine servants and fine
plate, and everything, in short, fine about her but a fine husband, for
he was a rough, homespun, good-natured sort of man, who cared little for
anything save a stocking-factory he owned at Balbriggan, and the stormy
incidents that usually shook the "livery" he belonged to.

There were six little Hawkshaws to be governed and geographied and
catechised, and civilized in all the various forms by which untaught
humanity is prepared for the future work of life; there were rudiments
of variously colored knowledge to be imparted, habits instilled, and
tempers controlled, by one who, though she brought to her task the
most sincere desire to succeed, was yet deep in a world of her own
thoughts,--far lost in the mazy intricacies of her own fancies. That
poor Miss Kellett, therefore, should pass for a very simple-minded, good
creature, quite unfit for her occupation, was natural enough; and that
Mrs. Hawkshaw should "take her into training" was almost an equally
natural consequence.

"She seems to be always like one in a dream, my dear," said Mrs.
Hawkshaw to her husband. "The children do exactly as they please; they
play all false, and she never corrects them; they draw landscapes in
their copy-books, and she says, 'Very nicely done, darlings.'"

"Her misfortunes are preying upon her, perhaps."

"Misfortunes! why, they have been in poverty this many a year. My
brother Terry tells me that the Kelletts had n't above two hundred a
year, and that latterly they lost even this."

"Well, it is a come-down in the world, anyhow," said Hawkshaw, sighing,
"and I must say she bears it well."

"If she only feels it as little as she appears to do everything else,
the sacrifice doesn't cost her much," said the lady, tartly. "I told her
she was to come here last Sunday and take charge of the children; she
never came; and when I questioned her as to the reason, she only smiled
and said, 'She never thought of it; in fact, she was too happy to be
alone on that day to think of anything.' And here she comes now, nearly
an hour late." And, as she spoke, a weary step ascended the steps to the
door, and an uncertain, faltering hand raised the knocker.

"It is nigh eleven o'clock, Miss Kellett," said Mrs. Hawkshaw, as she
met her on the stairs.

"Indeed--I am so sorry--I must have forgotten--I don't think I knew the
hour," said the othe