OR, SELF-DEPENDENCE. BY MRS. GORDON SMYTHIES, AUTHOR OF "COUSIN GEOFFREY," "MARRIED FOR LOVE," &c. "We need not bid for cloistered cell. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR, IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, SUCCESSORS TO HENRY COLBURN, 13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1861. The right of Translation is reserved. THE DAILY GOVERNESS. CHAPTER I. A HOLIDAY. MRS. GREEN BROWN was a very good-natured, warm-hearted creature. Perfectly satisfied with herself and with every one else around her, and very fond of poor Lucy. She was vain and egotistical, it is true, and having received little or no education, she had not acquired the art of concealing those defects; but in the gay world there are many vainer women, who never speak of their own charms or conquests, and many far greater egotists who seldom talk of themselves at all. VOL. II. B In a conversation with Mr. Popkins, Mrs. Green Brown had discovered that it was his opinion that Lucy Blair was in a very precarious state, quite unfit for exertion, and in sad want of change of air and scene. "In short," he said, "a few weeks in some sheltered place by the sea would be her best chance just now; and I don't see how the poor girl is ever to regain her strength and spirits, unless we can get her to the sea-side, and out of this dark dingy street." Mr. Popkins knew Mrs. Green Brown well, he knew her extreme good-nature and love for Lucy, and having made this remark, he left it to work its way. The result was exactly what he had anticipated. Mrs. Green Brown resolved that Lucy should have the benefit of the change Mr. Popkins advised; and with that true delicacy which comes from good feeling, and is often found in a peasant, and may yet be wanting in a peer, she announced that she required a little bracing herself, and was going with Mincing to Hastings for a few weeks. She had not been there three days, before she sent a pressing invitation to Mrs. and Miss Blair, to visit her in that most delightful spot, and with thoughtful liberality she commissioned Mr. Popkins to procure two first class tickets, and present them as coming from her, to frank them down. The very evening before the arrival of this ill-spelt but most amiable letter, Mr. Popkins had, as agreed between him and Mrs. Green Brown, impressed on Mrs. Blair the importance of a little sea air and change of scene for her beloved Lucy, and had mentioned Hastings as the place, above all others, desirable for the convalescent. Quite unaware of any understanding or charitable collusion between her kind friends, it seemed to Mrs. Blair (in her simplicity) quite providential that Mrs. Green Brown should have invited Lucy and herself just, as |