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turned； and darned to the utmost verge of decency； our food； always plain；
was now simplified to an unprecedented degree … except my father's
favourite dishes； our coals and candles were painfully economized … the
pair of candles reduced to one； and that most sparingly used； the coals
carefully husbanded in the half…empty grate： especially when my father
was out on his parish duties； or confined to bed through illness … then we
sat with our feet on the fender； scraping the perishing embers together
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from time to time； and occasionally adding a slight scattering of the dust
and fragments of coal； just to keep them alive。 As for our carpets； they in
time were worn threadbare； and patched and darned even to a greater
extent than our garments。 To save the expense of a gardener； Mary and I
undertook to keep the garden in order； and all the cooking and household
work that could not easily be managed by one servant… girl； was done by
my mother and sister； with a little occasional help from me： only a little；
because； though a woman in my own estimation； I was still a child in
theirs； and my mother； like most active； managing women； was not gifted
with very active daughters： for this reason … that being so clever and
diligent herself； she was never tempted to trust her affairs to a deputy； but；
on the contrary； was willing to act and think for others as well as for
number one； and whatever was the business in hand； she was apt to think
that no one could do it so well as herself： so that whenever I offered to
assist her； I received such an answer as … 'No； love； you cannot indeed …
there's nothing here you can do。 Go and help your sister； or get her to
take a walk with you … tell her she must not sit so much； and stay so
constantly in the house as she does … she may well look thin and dejected。'
'Mary； mamma says I'm to help you； or get you to take a walk with me；
she says you may well look thin and dejected； if you sit so constantly in
the house。'
'Help me you cannot； Agnes； and I cannot go out with YOU … I have
far too much to do。'
'Then let me help you。'
'You cannot； indeed； dear child。 Go and practise your music； or play
with the kitten。'
There was always plenty of sewing on hand； but I had not been taught
to cut out a single garment； and except plain hemming and seaming； there
was little I could do； even in that line； for they both asserted that it was far
easier to do the work themselves than to prepare it for me： and besides；
they liked better to see me prosecuting my studies； or amusing myself … it
was time enough for me to sit bending over my work； like a grave matron；
when my favourite little pussy was become a steady old cat。 Under such
circumstances； although I was not many degrees more useful than the
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AGNES GREY
kitten； my idleness was not entirely without excuse。
Through all our troubles； I never but once heard my mother complain
of our want of money。 As summer was coming on she observed to Mary
and me； 'What a desirable thing it would be for your papa to spend a few
weeks at a watering…place。 I am convinced the sea…air and the change of
scene would be of incalculable service to him。 But then； you see； there's
no money；' she added； with a sigh。 We both wished exceedingly that the
thing might be done； and lamented greatly that it could not。 'Well； well！'
said she； 'it's no use complaining。 Possibly something might be done to
further the project after all。 Mary； you are a beautiful drawer。 What do
you say to doing a few more pictures in your best style； and getting them
framed； with the water…coloured drawings you have already done； and
trying to dispose of them to some liberal picture…dealer； who has the sense
to discern their merits？'
'Mamma； I should be delighted if you think they COULD be sold； and
for anything worth while。'
'It's worth while trying； however； my dear： do you procure the
drawings； and I'll endeavour to find a purchaser。'
'I wish I could do something；' said I。
'You； Agnes！ well； who knows？ You draw pretty well； too： if you
choose some simple piece for your subject； I daresay you will be able to
produce something we shall all be proud to exhibit。'
'But I have another scheme in my head； mamma； and have had long；
only I did not like to mention it。'
'Indeed！ pray tell us what it is。'
'I should like to be a governess。'
My mother uttered an exclamation of surprise； and laughed。 My
sister dropped her work in astonishment； exclaiming； 'YOU a governess；
Agnes！ What can you be dreaming of？'
'Well！ I don't see anything so VERY extraordinary in it。 I do not
pretend to be able to instruct great girls； but surely I could teach little ones：
and I should like it so much： I am so fond of children。 Do let me；
mamma！'
'But； my love； you have not learned to take care of YOURSELF yet：
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and young children require more judgment and experience to manage than
elder ones。'
'But； mamma； I am above eighteen； and quite able to take care of
myself； and others too。 You do not know half the wisdom and prudence I
possess； because I have never been tried。'
'Only think；' said Mary； 'what would you do in a house full of strangers；
without me or mamma to speak and act for you … with a parcel of children；
besides yourself； to attend to； and no one to look to for advice？ You
would not even know what clothes to put on。'
'You think； because I always do as you bid me； I have no judgment of
my own： but only try me … that is all I ask … and you shall see what I can
do。'
At that moment my father entered and the subject of our discussion
was explained to him。
'What； my little Agnes a governess！' cried he； and； in spite of his
dejection； he laughed at the idea。
'Yes； papa； don't YOU say anything against it： I should li