‘She gave so voluble an account of her acquirements and requirements, that I was quite alarmed.’
‘I’m sure I can’t do that. I don’t know what I can do.’
A pause, broken by Lucy, who began to feel that she had more of the cool readiness of the great world. ‘How old is your daughter?’
‘Nearly fifteen. While we had our small parish in Sussex we taught her ourselves, and her father brought her on in Latin and Euclid. Do you know anything of those, Miss Sandbrook? not that it signifies.’
‘Miss Charlecote used to teach me with my brother. I have forgotten, but I could soon get them up again.’
‘They will hardly be wanted, but Sarah will respect you for them. Now, at Southminster, our time is so taken up that poor Sarah gets neglected, and it is very trying to an eager, diligent girl to prepare lessons, and have them continually put off, so we thought of indulging her with a governess, to bring her on in some of the modern languages and accomplishments that have grown rusty with us.’
‘I think I could do that,’ said Lucilla. ‘I believe I know what other people do, and my languages are fresh from the Continent. Ought I to give you a specimen of my pronunciation?’
‘Pray don’t,’ laughed Mrs. Prendergast. ‘You know better than I what is right, and must prepare to be horrified by the sounds you will hear.’
‘I ought to have brought my sketches. I had two years of lessons from S---.’
‘Sarah is burning for teaching in that line. Music? Dr. Prendergast likes the grand old pieces, and hardly cares for modern ones.’