Withearliestday,I:Ihadmyadvertisementwritten,enclosed,anddirectedbeforethebellrangtorousetheschool;itranthus:—

    “Ayoungladyacedtotuition”(hadIeachertwoyears?)“isdesirousofmeetingwithasituationinaprivatefamilywherethechildrenareunderfourteen(IthoughtthatasIwasbarelyeighteen,itwouldnotdotouaketheguidanceofpupilsnearermyownage).SheisqualifiedtoteachtheusualbranchesofagoodEnglisheducation,togetherwithFrench,Drawing,andMusithosedays,reader,thisnownarrowcatalogueofaplishments,wouldhavebeeolerablyprehensive).“Address,J.E.,Post-office,Lowton,—shire.”

    Thisdotremainedlockedinmydrawerallday:aftertea,IaskedleaveofthenewsuperinteogotoLowton,ioperformsomesmallissionsformyselfawoofmyfellow-teachers;permissionwasreadilygranted;Iwent.Itwasawalkoftwomiles,andtheeveningwaswet,butthedayswerestilllong;Ivisitedashoportwo,slippedtheletterintothepost-offidcamebackthroughheavyrain,withstreaminggarments,butwitharelievedheart.

    Thesucceedingweekseemedlong:itcametoalast,however,likeallsublunarythings,andoncemore,towardsthecloseofapleasantautumnday,IfoundmyselfafootontheroadtoLowton.Apicturesquetrackitwas,bytheway;lyingalongthesideofthebedthroughthesweetestcurvesofthedale:butthatdayIthoughtmoreoftheletters,thatmighthtnotbeawaitihelittleburghwhitherIwasbound,thanofthecharmsofleaandwater.

    Myostensibleerrandonthisoccasionwastogetmeasuredforapairofshoes;soIdischargedthatbusinessfirst,awasdoeppedacrosstheandquietlittlestreetfromtheshoemaker’stothepost-office:ittbyanolddame,whow