Pagina 342 van 817

"Why did not you all learn? You ought all to have learned. The

Miss Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an income

as yours. Do you draw?"

"No, not at all."

"What, none of you?"

"Not one."

"That is very strange. But I suppose you had no opportunity. Your

mother should have taken you to town every spring for the benefit

of masters."

"My mother would have no objection, but my father hates London."

"Has your governess left you?"

"We never had any governess."

"No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up

at home without a governess! I never heard of such a thing. Your

mother must have been quite a slave to your education."

Elizabeth could hardly help smiling, as she assured her that had

not been the case.

"Then who taught you? who attended to you? Without a governess,

you must have been neglected."