.
Mrs. Prendergast needed not to be jealous of Venus, while she had such
tenderness in her manner, such winning force in her tone.

'That was well done,' she said. 'Talking would have been impossible
while he sat looking on!'

'I am afraid he has given far too good an account of me,' said Lucy, in a
low and trembling voice.

'His account comes from one who has known you from babyhood.'

'And spoilt me from babyhood!'

'Yes, Sarah knows what Cousin Peter can do in that line. He had little
that was new to tell us, and what he had was of a kind--' She broke off,
choked by tears. What she had heard of the girl's self-devotion touched
her trebly at the sight of one so small, young, and soft-looking. And if
she had ever been dubious of 'Peter's pet,' she was completely
fascinated.

'I must not be taken on his word,' said Cilla, smiling.

'No, that would not be right by any of us.'

'Then pray be very hard with me--as a thorough stranger.'

'But I am so inexperienced, I have only had one interview with a
governess.'

'And what did she do?' asked Lucilla, as both recovered from a laugh.

'She gave so voluble an account of her _ac_quirements and _re_quirements,
that I was quite alarmed.'

'I'm sure I can't do that. I don't know what I can do.'

A pause, broken by Lucy, who began to feel that she had more of the cool
readiness of the great world. 'How old is your daughter?'

'Nearly fifteen. While we had our small parish in Sussex we taught her
ourselves, and her father brought her on in Latin and Euclid. Do you
know anything of those, Miss Sandbrook? not that it signifies.'

'Miss Charlecote used to teach me with my brother. I have forgotten, but
I could soon get them up again.'

'They will hardly be wanted, but Sarah will respect you for them. Now,
at Southminster, our time is so taken up that poor Sarah gets neglected,
and it is very trying to an eager, diligent girl to prepare lessons, and
have them continually put off, so we thought of indulging her with a
governess, to bring her on in some of the modern languages and
accomplishments that have grown rusty with us.'

'I think I could do that,' said Lucilla. 'I believe I know what other
people do, and my languages are fresh from the Continent. Ought I to
give you a specimen of my pronunciation?'

'Pray don't,' laughed Mrs. Prendergast. 'You know better than I what is
right, and must prepare to be horrified by the sounds you will hear.'

'I