he has! I sometimes could cry to think of it when I go to bed, only that I tumble to sleep too fast.'

'But, Edie,' said Theodora, 'there is no need of a gravestone to tell us or anybody how good papa was; we all know it.'

'Yes,' said Edith, but people will talk, you see, Theo; and it teases mamma,-I know it does. Now, I'll just tell you about that horrid Mrs. Simpson.'

'She is not horrid, Edie; she is very kind.'

'Well, no, not generally; I mean only in this. To-day, when you were out, Theo, she came, and presently she said to mamma, "And I suppose, of course, you will be putting up a monument to dear Mr. Astley ;" and mamma said, "I am afraid not; I cannot afford it at present." Mamma ought to have smacked her face and said, "Mind your own business." I would.'

'Edie, Edie,' said Theodora, almost laughing, 'what a little impetuous piece of trumpery you are, my child! Fancy mamma slapping Mrs. Simpson's face!'

'But, Theo, don't you think dear papa ought to have a tombstone?'

'Yes, Edie, I do.'

'Well, Theo,' said the little girl, 'so does mamma. You know mamma often talks to me when you are out, Theo, never to Gertrude; and when Mrs. Simpson was gone, she said, "I wish I could afford to put a gravestone over papa, but I can't ;" and I said, "Will it cost a great deal?" and she said, "Four or five pounds, if not more, and I must save every shilling for your brothers, Edie."

Theodora and Edith.

63

And then, Theo,' continued Edith, lowering her voice, 'then poor mamma began to cry, and she called out, "Not because I would not try all I can, but my first duty is to my children. You yourself would say so; I believe it would be your wish." I think, Theo, that she was talking to papa.'

CHAPTER XI.

Prospect House-Mrs. Toogood—Things do not appear very cheerful -Theodora taken to the schoolroom-Summoned to the drawingroom-The head teacher, Miss Terry-Theodora's dulness-She has to run the gauntlet of the schoolroom-Isabel Howard.

HE day arrived upon which Theodora was to take her place as one of the inmates of Mrs. Toogood's 'establishment.' Mr. Morgan, with his usual kindness, volunteered to take her. She understood, vaguely, that in return for instructing the smallest of the children, and making herself generally useful, she was to be qualified for a governess or school-teacher; but of what was expected of her she really knew nothing.

'Prospect House'—that was the name of the seminary for young ladies-was an ugly red brick building, which required some prospect to make it at all bearable; but, unfortunately, the builder or owner had thought only of the sound or sentiment of the name, for there was no prospect attached to it that was at all inviting, excepting, as Theodora observed as she stood upon the door-step, the prospect of some day leaving it.