Barnetprivatelythoughtthedesignasufficientlyimposingoneasitstood，evenextravagantlyornate；but，feelingthathehadnorighttocriticize，hesaidgently，’Downe，shouldyounotlivemoreinyourchildren’slivesatthepresenttime，andsoftenthesharpnessofregretforyourownpastbythinkingoftheirfuture？’
’Yes，yes；butwhatcanIdomore？’askedDowne，wrinklinghisforeheadhopelessly。
ItwaswithanxiousslownessthatBarnetproducedhisreply——thesecretobjectofhisvisitto-night。’Didyounotsayonedaythatyououghtbyrightstogetagovernessforthechildren？’
Downeadmittedthathehadsaidso，butthathecouldnotseehiswaytoit。’ThekindofwomanIshouldliketohave，’hesaid，’wouldberatherbeyondmymeans。No；IthinkIshallsendthemtoschoolinthetownwhentheyareoldenoughtogooutalone。’
’Now，Iknowofsomethingbetterthanthat。ThelateLieutenantSavile’sdaughter，Lucy，wantstodosomethingforherselfinthewayofteaching。Shewouldbeinexpensive，andwouldansweryourpurposeaswellasanybodyforsixortwelvemonths。Shewouldprobablycomedailyifyouweretoaskher，andsoyourhousekeepingarrangementswouldnotbemuchaffected。’