She made one attempt
to be pert to Miss Aylmer; but something in the manner of her
governess quite baffled her, and she was obliged to be more obedient
than she had ever been. The mischief which Emily and Lilias had done
to her, by throwing off their allegiance to Eleanor, and thus
unconsciously leading her to set her at nought, was, at her age, not
to be so easily repaired; yet with no opportunity for gossiping, and
with involuntary respect for her governess, there were hopes that she
would lose the habit of her two great faults. There certainly was an
improvement in her general tone and manner, which made Mr. Devereux
hope that he might soon resume with her the preparation for
confirmation which had been cut short the year before.
Phyllis and Adeline had been possessed by Reginald with a great dread
of governesses; and they were agreeably surprised in Miss Aylmer,
whom they found neither cross nor strict, and always willing to
forward their amusements, and let them go out with their papa and
sisters whenever they were asked. Phyllis, without much annoyance to
one so obedient, was trained into more civilisation, and Ada's more
serious faults were duly watched and guarded against.
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