"Have you been in the habit of teaching?"
"No. The necessity for taking to it has only lately arisen."
"What can you teach?"
"Not much beyond what children of ten or eleven years old are
expected to know; but I could take charge of them entirely."
"Have you any children of your own?"
"One."
"Could you take a situation as resident teacher if you have a child?"
"I must get something to do, and if I can make no arrangement by
which my child can live with me, I shall try and place her with a
friend. I may be able to hear of some appointment as a daily
governess."
"I should have thought that in your native town you would have been
easily able to find employment--you must be well known?"
There was a pause, and after a moment or so she said:-
"We were well known once, but we went abroad and lost all our money.
My husband died abroad. When I returned, I found that there was very
little which my friends could do for me. I am not accomplished, and
there are crowds of young women who are more capable than I am.
Moreover, I saw that I was becoming a burden, and people called on me
rather as a matter of duty than for any other reason. You don't know
how soon all but the very best insensibly neglect very poor relatives
if they are not gifted or attractive.
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