education, and that makes her less anxious as to age. She is a woman of taste
and also of strict principle, and objects to having a French person in the
house. I feel sure that she will think your manners and accomplishments as good
as she is likely to find; and over the religious and moral tone of the education
she, and indeed the bishop himself, will preside.«
    Gwendolen dared not answer, but the repression of her decided dislike to the
whole prospect sent an unusually deep flush over her face and neck, subsiding as
quickly as it came. Anna, full of tender fears, put her little hand into her
cousin's, and Mr. Gascoigne was too kind a man not to conceive something of the
trial which this sudden change must be for a girl like Gwendolen. Bent on giving
a cheerful view of things, he went on in an easy tone of remark, not as if
answering supposed objections -
    »I think so highly of the position, that I should have been tempted to try
and get it for Anna, if she had been at all likely to meet Mrs. Mompert's wants.
It is really a home, with a continuance of education in the highest sense:
governess is a misnomer. The bishop's views are of a more decidedly Low Church
colour than my own - he is a close friend of Lord Grampian's; but though
privately strict, he is not by any means narrow in public matters. Indeed, he
has created as little dislike in his diocese as any bishop on the bench. He has
always remained friendly to me, though before his promotion, when he was an
incumbent of this diocese, we had a little controversy about the Bible Society.«
    The Rector's words were too pregnant with satisfactory meaning to himself
for him to imagine the effect they produced on the mind of his niece.
»Continuance of education« - »bishop's views« - »privately strict« - »Bible
Society,« - it was as if he had introduced a few snakes at large for the
instruction of ladies who regarded them as all alike furnished with poison-bags,
and biting or stinging according to convenience. To Gwendolen, already shrinking
from the prospect opened to her, such phrases came like the growing heat of a
burning-glass - not at all as the links of persuasive reflection which they
formed for the good uncle. She began desperately to seek an alternative.
    »There was another situation, I think, mamma spoke of?« she said, with
determined self-mastery.
    »