Page:Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey (1st edition), Volume 3 (Agnes Grey).djvu/24

16 At that moment my father entered, and the subject of our discussion was explained to him.

"What, my little Agnes, a governess!" cried he, and, in spite of his dejection, he laughed at the idea.

"Yes, papa, don't you say anything against it; I should like it so much; and I'm sure I could manage delightfully."

"But, my darling, we could not spare you." And a tear glistened in his eye as he added—"No, no! afflicted as we are, surely we are not brought to that pass yet."

"Oh, no!" said my mother. "There is no necessity, whatever, for such a step; it is merely a whim of her own. So you must hold your tongue, you naughty girl, for though you are so ready to leave us, you know very well, we cannot part with you."

I was silenced for that day, and for many succeeding ones; but still I did not wholly relinquish my darling scheme. Mary got her drawing materials, and steadily set to work. I got mine too; but while I drew, I thought of other things.

How delightful it would be to be a governness! To go out into the world; to enter