"I was thinking," said Grace, "that I believe the people at the Cliff
Cottages are going away, and that Miss Williams might be at liberty."
"Didn't I know that Grace would come out with Miss Williams?" exclaimed
Rachel. "A regular eruption of the Touchettomania. We have had him
already advertising her."
"Miss Williams!" said Mrs. Curtis. "Yes, she might suit you very well.
I believe they are very respectable young women, poor things! I have
always wished that we could do more for them."
"Who?" asked Fanny.
"Certain pets of Mr. Touchett's," said Rachel; "some of the numerous
ladies whose mission is that curatolatry into which Grace would lapse
but for my strenuous efforts."
"I don't quite know why you call them his pets," said Grace, "except
that he knew their antecedents, and told us about them."
"Exactly, that was enough, for me. I perfectly understand the meaning of
Mr. Touchett's recommendations, and if what Fanny wants is a commonplace
sort of upper nursemaid, I dare say it would do." And Rachel leant back,
applied herself to her wood carving, and virtually retired from the
discussion.
"One sister is a great invalid," said Grace, "quite a cripple, and the
other goes out as a daily governess. They are a clergyman's daughters,
and once were very well off, but they lost everything through some
speculation of their brother. I believe he fled the country under some
terrible suspicion of dishonesty; and though no one thought they had
anything to do with it, their friends dropped them because they would
not give him up, nor believe him guilty, and a little girl of his lives
with them."
"Poor things!" exclaimed Lady Temple. "I should very much like to employ
this one. How very sad."
"Mrs. Grey told me that her children had never done so well with any
one," said Mrs. Curtis. "She wanted to engage Miss Williams permanently,
but could not induce her to leave her sister, or even to remove her to
London, on account of her health."
"Do you know her, Grace?" asked Fanny.
"I have called once or twice, and have been very much pleased with the
sick sister; but Rachel does not fancy that set, you see. I meet the
other at the Sunday school, I like her looks and manner very much, and
she is always at the early service before her work."
"Just like a little mauve book!" muttered Rachel.