talk of the much greater extent of Melbourne.
Within the gates of the Homestead, there was a steep, sharp bit of road, cut out in the red sandstone rock, and after a few paces she paused to rest with a sigh that brought Conrade to her side, when she put her arm round his neck, and leant on his shoulder; but even her two supporters could not prevent her from looking pale and exhausted.
'Never mind,' she said, 'this salt wind is delightful. How like old times it is!' and she stood gazing across the little steep lawn at the grey sea, the line of houses following the curve of the bay, and straggling up the valley in the rear, and the purple headlands projecting point beyond point, showing them to her boys, and telling their names.
'It is all ugly and cold,' said Francis, with an ungracious shiver. 'I shall go home to Melbourne when I'm a man.'
'And you will come, mamma ?' added Conrade.
He had no answer, for Fanny was in her aunt's arms; and, like mother and daughter, they clung to each other--more able to sympathize, more truly one together, than the young widow could be with either of the girls.
As soon as Fanny had rested and enjoyed the home atmosphere downstairs, she begged to visit the dear old rooms, and carried Conrade through a course of recognitions through the scarcely altered apartments. Only one had been much changed, namely, the schoolroom, which had been stripped of the kindly old shabby furniture that Fanny tenderly recollected, and was decidedly bare; but a mahogany box stood on a stand on one side; there was a great accession of books, and writing implements occupied the plain deal table in the centre.
'What have you done to the dear old room--do you not use it still?' asked Fanny.
'Yes, I work here,' said Rachel.
Vainly did Lady Temple look for that which women call work.
'I have hitherto ground on at after-education and self-improvement,' said Rachel; 'now I trust to make my preparation available for others. I will undertake any of your boys if you wish it.'
'Thank you; but what is that box?'--in obedience to a curious push and pull from Conrade.
'It is her dispensary,' said Grace.
'Yes,' said Rachel, 'you are weak and nervous, and I have just the thing for you.'
'Is it homoeopathy?'
'Yes, here is my book. I have done great things in my district, and should do more but for prejudice. There, this globule is the very thing for your case; I made it out last night in my book. That is right, and I wanted to ask you some questions about little Wilfred.'
Fanny had obediently swallowed her own globule, but little Wilfred was a different matter, and she retreated from the large eyes and open book, saying that he was better, and that Mr. Frampton should look at him; but Rachel was not to be eluded, and was in full career of elucidation to the meanest capacity, when a sharp skirmish between the boys ended the conversation, and it appeared that Conrade had caught Francis just commencing an onslaught on the globules, taking them for English sweetmeats of a minute description.
The afternoon passed with the strange heaviness well known to those who find it hard to resume broken threads after long parting. There was much affection, but not full certainty what to talk about, and the presence of the boys would have hindered confidence, even had they not incessantly occupied their mother. Conrade, indeed, betook himself to a book, but Francis was only kept out of mischief by his constantly turning over pictures with him; however, at dark, Coombe came to convey them home, and the ladies of the Homestead experienced a sense of relief. Rachel immediately began to talk of an excellent preparatory school.
'I was thinking of asking you,' said Fanny, 'if there is any one here who would come as a daily governess.'
'Oh!' cried Rachel, 'these two would be much better at school, and I would form the little ones, who are still manageable.'
'Conrade is not eight years old yet,' said his mother in an imploring tone, 'and the Major said I need not part with him till he has grown a little more used to English ways.'
'He can read, I see,' said Grace, 'and he told me he had done some Latin with the Major.'
'Yes, he has picked up a vast deal of information, and on the voyage the Major used to teach him out of a little pocket Virgil. The Major said it would not be of much use at school, as there was no dictionary; but that the discipline and occupation would be useful, and so they were. Conrade, will do anything for the Major, and indeed so will they all.'
Three Majors in one speech, thought Rachel; and by way of counteraction she enunciated, 'I could undertake the next pair of boys easily, but these two are evidently wanting school discipline.'
Lady Temple feathered up like a mother dove over her nest.
'You do not know Conrade. He is so trustworthy and affectionate, dear boy, and they are both always good with me. The Major said it often hurts boys to send them too young.'
'They are very young, poor little fellows,' said Mrs. Curtis.
'And if they are forward in some things they are backward in others,' said Fanny. 'What Major Keith recommended was a governess, who would know what is generally expected of little boys.'
'I don't like half measures,' muttered Rachel. 'I do not approve of encouraging young women to crowd the overstocked profession of governesses.'
Fanny opened her brown eyes, and awaited the words of wisdom.
'Is it not a flagrant abuse,' continued Rachel, 'that whether she have a vocation or not, every woman of a certain rank, who wishes to gain her own livelihood, must needs become a governess? A nursery maid must have a vocation, but an educated or half-educated woman has no choice; and educator she must become, to her own detriment, and that of her victims.'
'I always did think governesses often much to be pitied,' said Fanny, finding something was expected of her.
'What's the use of pity if one runs on in the old groove? We must prevent the market from being drugged, by diverting the supply into new lines.'
'Are there any new lines?' asked Fanny, surprised at the progress of society in her absence.
'Homoeopathic doctresses,' whispered Grace; who, dutiful as she was, sometimes indulged in a little fun, which Rachel would affably receive unless she took it in earnest, as in the present instance.
'Why not--I ask why not? Some women have broken through prejudice, and why should not others? Do you not agree with me, Fanny, that female medical men--I mean medical women--would be an infinite boon?'
'It would be very nice if they would never be nervous.'
'Nerves are merely a matter of training. Think of the numbers that might be removed from the responsibility of incompetently educating! I declare that to tempt a person into the office of governess, instead of opening a new field to her, is the most short-sighted indolence.'
'I don't want to tempt any one,' said Fanny. 'She ought to have been out before and be experienced, only she most be kind to the poor boys. I wanted the Major to inquire in London, but he said perhaps I might hear of some one here.'
'That was right, my dear,' returned her aunt. 'A gentleman, an officer, could not do much in such a matter.'
'He always does manage whatever one wants.'
At which speech Rachel cast a glance towards her mother, and saw her look questioning and perplexed.
'I was thinking,' said Grace, 'that I believe the people at the Cliff Cottages are going away, and that Miss Williams might be at liberty.'
'Didn't I know that Grace would come out with Miss Williams?' exclaimed Rachel. 'A regular eruption of the Touchettomania. We have had him already advertising her.'
'Miss Williams!' said Mrs. Curtis. 'Yes, she might suit you very well. I believe they are very respectable young women, poor things! I have always wished that we could do more for them.'
'Who?' asked Fanny.
'Certain pets of Mr. Touchett's,' said Rachel; 'some of the numerous ladies whose mission is that curatolatry into which Grace would lapse but for my strenuous efforts.'
'I don't quite know why you call them his pets,' said Grace, 'except that he knew their antecedents, and told
