“Nearly eleven.”
“What do you intend him for?”
“We have no present intentions about his future destination,” said Charles. “He will remain at school till he is fifteen; so we need be in no hurry about it.”
“Then your sister will continue on her present plan till that time?”
“Yes,” replied Charles; “for Harriet will not be old enough to go out before five years from this time. Isabella wishes to be independent in two years, and I think she will be well qualified; but it will be a grievous thing to Jane to part with her.”
“It must, indeed,” said Monteath. “You know I have seen your sister Jane, more than once, and she fixed my attention immediately by the way in which she managed those spoiled children of Mrs Everett’s. Nobody ever had any control over them but your sister; but they are in much better order than they used to be.”
“It gives Jane much satisfaction to think so,” said Charles.
“But it must be very discouraging work,” said Monteath, “to do her best for them, for half of every day, and to be obliged to surrender them to be spoiled for the other half.”
“I should find it so,” replied Charles: “but Jane makes as little as possible of discouragements. Her temper used to be an anxious one too: but she has had so much to do and to bear, that she has learned not to look from side to side in hope or fear, but to go on, straight forwards, in the road of duty, whether an easy one or not.”
“She is an enviable person then,” said Monteath.