ttle before nine o'clock, when the younger ones went to bed. The duty
of evening, as well as morning prayer was never omitted. Jane sat down
to her work again till ten, when she put every thing away, locked up her
closets, and went round the house with the servant, to see that all was
safe, and as it should be, and then retired to her own room, to enjoy
the rest which was fairly earned by the previous hours of activity and
usefulness. She was very careful to adhere as closely as possible to
the whole of this plan, especially to the hours of walking and going to
bed. She was sometimes tempted to think that the children could walk as
well without her, and that she was too busy to accompany them: but she
never would give way to her inclination to stay at home; for her reason
told her that it would be injurious both to herself and her sisters, to
give up her accustomed walk. She could not expect to keep up her vigour
of mind and body without exercise and relaxation, and it would be wrong
to deprive the children of her society in their rambles. A greater
temptation still was to sit up late: the quiet hour at night was
precious to her; it was the only time she could give to the formation of
her plans, and to reflection on her present circumstances and
anticipation of the future. The previous exercise of prayer, left her
mind in a soothed and tranquil state; and however oppressed, at other
times, with fears and cares, this was to her an hour of hope and
cheerfulness. She rejoiced that it came at the close of the day, as it
enabled her to lay her head on her pillow in that frame of mind which is
the best preparation for peaceful sleep and for a cheerful waking.
Often was she tempted to prolong this happy hour, but she never did.
She was aware of the duty of early rising, and also of taking sufficient
rest, and that in order to do both she must keep to the right time of
retiring to rest; and accordingly, the moment the clock struck ten, the
work was put away, and the train of thought, whatever it might be, was
broken off.

The school at which Isabella and Harriet were placed, was one of the
best of its kind, and it was not long before a rapid improvement was
observed in them both. Isabella's talents were remarkable, but neither
herself nor her family were sufficiently aware of this while they
received only an irregular and imperfect cultivation. She was
remarkably modest, and inclined to be indolent when she had no
par