What she understood, she
encountered willingly and bravely; but, the simplest thing that
seemed to involve any element of obscurity, she dreaded like a
dragon in his den.
"You don't seem to relish the proposal, Letty," said Mrs.
Wardour. "I hope you had not taken it in your head that I meant
to leave you independent. What I have done for you, I have done
purely for your father's sake. I was under no obligation to take
the least trouble about you. But I have more regard to your
welfare than I fear you give me credit for."
"O aunt! it's only that I'm not fit for being a governess. I
shouldn't a bit mind being dairymaid or housemaid. I would go to
such a place to-morrow, if you liked."
"Letty, your tastes may be vulgar, but you owe it to your family
to look at least like a lady."
"But I am not scholar enough for a governess, aunt."
"That is not my fault. I sent you to a good school. Now, I will
find you a good situation, and you must contrive to keep it."
"O aunt! let me stay here--just as I am. Call me your dairymaid
or your housemaid. It is all one--I do the work now."
"Do you mean to reflect on me that I have required menial offices
of you? I have been to you in the place of a mother; and it is
for me, not for you, to make choice of your path in life."
"Do you want me to go at once?" asked Letty, her heart sinking
again, and her voice trembling with a pathos her aunt quite
misunderstood.
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