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Discreet and dignified； handsome and well…bredsuch was my impression of Mrs。 Fosdyke； while she harangued me on the subject of her children； and communicated her views on education。 Having heard the views before from others； I assumed a listening position； and privately formed my opinion of the schoolroom。 It was large； lofty； perfectly furnished for the purpose； it had a big window and a balcony looking out over the garden terrace and the park beyonda wonderful schoolroom； in my limited experience。 One of the two doors which it possessed was left open； and showed me a sweet little bedroom； with amber draperies and maplewood furniture； devoted to myself。 Here were wealth and liberality； in the harmonious combination so seldom discovered by the spectator of small means。 I controlled my first feeling of bewilderment just in time to answer Mrs。 Fosdyke on the subject of reading and recitationviewed as minor accomplishments which a good governess might be expected to teach。
〃While the organs are young and pliable；〃 the lady remarked； 〃I regard it as of great importance to practice children in the art of reading aloud； with an agreeable variety of tone and correctness of emphasis。 Trained in this way； they will produce a favorable impression on others； even in ordinary conversation； when they grow up。 Poetry； committed to memory and recited； is a valuable means toward this end。 May I hope that your studies have enabled you to carry out my views？〃
Formal enough in language； but courteous and kind in manner。 I relieved Mrs。 Fosdyke from anxiety by informing her that we had a professor of elocution at school。 And then I was left to improve my acquaintance with my three pupils。
They were fairly intelligent children； the boy； as usual； being slower than the girls。 I did my bestwith many a sad remembrance of the far dearer pupils whom I had leftto make them like me and trust me； and I succeeded in winning their confidence。 In a week from the time of my arrival at Carsham Hall； we began to understand each other。
The first day in the week was one of our days for reciting poetry； in obedience to the instructions with which I had been favored by Mrs。 Fosdyke。 I had done with the girls； and had just opened （perhaps I ought to say profaned） Shakespeare's 〃Julius Caesar；〃 in the elocutionary interests of Master Freddy。 Half of Mark Antony's first glorious speech over Caesar's dead body he had learned by heart； and it was now my duty to teach him； to the best of my small ability； how to speak it。 The morning was warm。 We had our big window open； the delicious perfume of flowers in the garden beneath filled the room。
I recited the first eight lines； and stopped there feeling that I must not exact too much from the boy at first。 〃Now； Freddy；〃 I said； 〃try if you can speak the poetry as I have spoken it。〃
〃Don't do anything of the kind； Freddy；〃 said a voice from the garden； 〃it's all spoken wrong。〃
Who was this insolent person？ A man unquestionablyand； strange to say； there was something not entirely unfamiliar to me in his voice。 The girls began to giggle。 Their brother was more explicit。 〃Oh；〃 says Freddy； 〃it's only Mr。 Sax。〃
The one becoming course to pursue was to take no notice of the interruption。 〃Go on；〃 I said。 Freddy recited the lines； like a dear good boy； with as near an imitation of my style of elocution as could be expected from him。
〃Poor devil！〃 cried the voice from the garden； insolently pitying my attentive pupil。
I imposed silence on the girls by a lookand then； without stirring from my chair； expressed my sense of the insolence of Mr。 Sax in clear and commanding tones。 〃I shall be obliged to close the window if this is repeated。〃 Having spoken to that effect； I waited in expectation of an apology。 Silence was the only apology。 It was enough for me that I had produced the right impression。 I went on with my recitation。
〃Here； under leave of Brutus； and the rest （For Brutus is an honorable man； So are they all； all honorable men）； Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral。 He was my friend； faithful and just to me〃
〃Oh； good heavens； I can't stand _that！_ Why don't you speak the last line properly？ Listen to me。〃
Dignity is a valuable quality； especially in a governess。 But there are limits to the most highly trained endurance。 I bounced out into the balconyand there； on the terrace； smoking a cigar； was my lost stranger in the streets of Sandwich！
He recognized me； on his side； the instant I appeared。 〃Oh； Lord！〃 he cried in tones of horror； and ran round the corner of the terrace as if my eyes had been mad bulls in close pursuit of him。 By this time it is； I fear； useless for me to set myself up as a discreet person in emergencies。 Another woman might have controlled herself。 I burst into fits of laughter。 Freddy and the girls joined me。 For the time； it was plainly useless to pursue the business of education。 I shut up Shakespeare； and allowedno； let me tell the truth； encouragedthe children to talk about Mr。 Sax。
They only seemed to know what Mr。 Sax himself had told them。 His father and mother and brothers and sisters had all died in course of time。 He was the sixth and last of the children； and he had been christened 〃Sextus〃 in consequence； which is Latin （here Freddy interposed） for sixth。 Also christened 〃Cyril〃 （here the girls recovered the lead） by his mother's request； 〃Sextus〃 being such a hideous name。 And which of his Christian names does he use？ You wouldn't ask if you knew him！ 〃Sextus；〃 of course； because it is the ugliest。 Sextus Sax？ N ot the romantic sort of name that one likes； when one is a woman。 But I have no right to be particular。 My own name （is it possible that I have not mentioned it in these pages yet？） is only Nancy Morris。 Do not despise meand let us return to Mr。 Sax。
Is he married？ The eldest girl thought not。 She had heard mamma say to a lady； 〃An old German family； my dear； and； in spite of his oddities； an excellent man； but so poorbarely enough to live onand blurts out the truth； if people ask his opinion； as if he had twenty thousand a year！〃 〃Your mamma knows him well； of course？〃 〃I should think so； and so do we。 He often comes here。 They say he's not good company among grown…up people。 _We_ think him jolly。 He understands dolls； and he's the best back at leap…frog in the whole of England。〃 Thus far we had advanced in the praise of Sextus Sax； when one of the maids came in with a note for me。 She smiled mysteriously； and said； 〃I'm to wait for an answer； miss。〃
I opened the note； and read these lines：
〃I am so ashamed of myself； I daren't attempt to make my apologies personally。 Will you accept my written excuses？ Upon my honor； nobody told me when I got here yesterday that you were in the house。 I heard the recitation； andcan you excuse my stupidity？I thought it was a stage…struck housemaid amusing herself with the children。 May I accompany you when you go out with the young ones for your daily walk？ One word will do。 Yes or no。 Penitently yoursS。 S。〃
In my position； there was but one possible answer to this。 Governesses must not make appointments with strange gentlemeneven when the