ticular object in view; but set one before her, and her perseverance
was unconquerable. She had always been a great reader, and had
therefore an excellent stock of general information; but till she went
to school, she never could give her attention to any of the drudgery of
learning. She wished to learn French and Italian as she had learned her
mother-tongue, by _picking up_, instead of beginning at the beginning,
and learning grammar. She did _pick up_ wonderfully well, to be sure,
but she found that would not answer at school. When once convinced of
this, she set to work at the grammar with all diligence, and conquered
difficulties every day, till she was surprised at her own progress. Her
great ambition now was, to make herself a companion for Charles and
Jane; not merely to be their friend, but to help them in earning money
and obtaining independence, instead of being, as she now was, the most
expensive of the family. Jane urged her to be patient, and to think at
present of her own improvement only: but she could not help forming many
plans for future doings, some reasonable, some much too grand. She had
no taste for music, and, by her own desire, therefore, the great expense
of musical teaching was not incurred: but drawing was her delight, and
she soon made such progress in the art, that Jane was really inspired
with her sister's hope that this talent might be turned to good account.

Isabella's very judicious instructress exercised her pupils in
composition, and also in translation, much more than is the custom in
most schools. To Isabella this was particularly useful; first, in
shewing the necessity of accurate knowledge, and her own deficiency in
it, and afterwards in serving as a test of her improvement, and,
consequently, as an encouragement. She liked this employment much, and
soon excelled in it. Her general knowledge was brought into play; and
her compositions were, at sixteen, what many at six-and-twenty need not
be ashamed of. Her translations were also remarkably spirited and
elegant; and a hint from Jane, that this talent might prove useful in
the same way as her drawing, was quite sufficient to insure Isabella's
particular exertions in its improvement.

Mr and Mrs Barker called frequently to see their young friends, and
they never quitted the door without leaving happy and grateful hearts
behind them. They rewarded Jane's exertions with something better than
praise--with their friendship a