father.
One year's schooling for Alfred was all that remained to be defrayed, as
Harriet was to receive the rest of her education from her sisters, and
Mr Barker thought that what was left could not be better applied than
in the purchase of furniture for the parlour and school-room. The
twenty-five guineas which the girls had themselves earned was the means
of procuring them a good piano-forte; a thing which was quite necessary
in their new establishment, but which could not at present have been
afforded if their own industry had not given them the means.

Their number of pupils was at first ten, and they wished to increase it
to twenty. The school hours were from nine till three; an hour being
allowed in the middle of the time for a walk in fine weather, and play
within doors when it rained.

By this means, Jane and Isabella secured the whole afternoon and evening
to themselves, and their purpose was to devote a portion of it regularly
to their own improvement. If they could obtain the appointed number of
scholars, their income, though small, would be amply sufficient for
their wants, without any assistance from Charles. He would not hear of
this, but insisted on their accepting twenty pounds the first year, and
afterwards ten pounds a year for Alfred, till he too should become
independent.

It may be imagined with what pleasure Charles saw his sisters thus
established, and with how much gratitude he looked on their present
situation and future prospects. These feelings were confirmed by a
letter which he received from Jane a few weeks after she had begun to
experience the toils and satisfactions of school keeping.

"Our employments," she said, "afford just the anxieties and pleasures
which we expected from them. I find less fatigue in my present
duties, arduous as they are, than in my situation of daily governess,
and Isabella is indefatigable. The children are very fond of her.
She seems peculiarly fitted to engage their affections, and that is
the grand point of all. We have difficulty in establishing sufficient
order and quietness, without introducing formality, which, of all
things, we wish to avoid; but in time we hope to get over this, and
all our other little difficulties. Our difficulties are all _little_
ones now, and the delightful consciousness of independence which
attends us, animates all our exertions, and makes every day pass
happily.

"We feel as if a great wei