Do you know my—guardian,

Mr. Jarndyce, ma’am?” I asked after a

good deal of hesitation.

Not personally, Esther,” said Miss Donny; merely through his ‟ ‟

solicitors, Messrs. Kenge and Carboy, of London. A very superior

gentleman, Mr. Kenge. Truly eloquent indeed. Some of his periods quite

majestic!”

I felt this to be very true but was too confused to attend to it. Our

speedy arrival at our destination, before I had time to recover myself,

increased my confusion, and I never shall forget the uncertain and the

unreal air of everything at Greenleaf (Miss Donny’s house) that

afternoon!

But I soon became used to it. I was so adapted to the routine of

Greenleaf before long that I seemed to have been there a great while and

almost to have dreamed rather than really lived my old life at my

godmother’s. Nothing could be more precise, exact, and orderly than

Greenleaf. There was a time for everything all round the dial of the

clock, and everything was done at its appointed moment.

We were twelve boarders, and there were two Miss Donnys, twins. It

was understood that I would have to depend, by and by, on my

qualifications as a governess, and I was not only instructed in everything

that was taught at Greenleaf, but was very soon engaged in helping to

instruct others. Although I was treated in every other respect like the

rest of the school, this single difference was made in my case from the

first. As I began to know more, I taught more, and so in course of time I

had plenty to do, which I was very fond of doing because it made the

dear girls fond of me. At last, whenever a new pupil came who was a

little downcast and unhappy, she was so sure—indeed I don’t know why

—to make a friend of me that all new-comers were confided to my care.

They said I was so gentle, but I am sure they were! I often thought of the

resolution I had made on my birthday to try to be industrious,

contented, and true-hearted and to do some good to some one and winMr. Jarndyce, ma’am?” I asked after a

good deal of hesitation.

Not personally, Esther,” said Miss Donny; merely through his ‟ ‟

solicitors, Messrs. Kenge and Carboy, of London. A very superior

gentleman, Mr. Kenge. Truly eloquent indeed. Some of his periods quite

majestic!”

I felt this to be very true but was too confused to attend to it. Our

speedy arrival at our destination, before I had time to recover myself,

increased my confusion, and I never shall forget the uncertain and the

unreal air of everything at Greenleaf (Miss Donny’s house) that

afternoon!

But I soon became used to it. I was so adapted to the routine of

Greenleaf before long that I seemed to have been there a great while and

almost to have dreamed rather than really lived my old life at my

godmother’s. Nothing could be more precise, exact, and orderly than

Greenleaf. There was a time for everything all round the dial of the

clock, and everything was done at its appointed moment.

We were twelve boarders, and there were two Miss Donnys, twins. It

was understood that I would have to depend, by and by, on my

qualifications as a governess, and I was not only instructed in everything

that was taught at Greenleaf, but was very soon engaged in helping to

instruct others. Although I was treated in every other respect like the

rest of the school, this single difference was made in my case from the

first. As I began to know more, I taught more, and so in course of time I

had plenty to do, which I was very fond of doing because it made the

dear girls fond of me. At last, whenever a new pupil came who was a

little downcast and unhappy, she was so sure—indeed I don’t know why

—to make a friend of me that all new-comers were confided to my care.

They said I was so gentle, but I am sure they were! I often thought of the

resolution I had made on my birthday to try to be industrious,

contented, and true-hearted and to do some good to some one and win