“How often must I tell you that it is not necessary you should go into the asylum?  You may be elected to one of the out-pensions if we can collect votes enough.  As for Lady Latimer reserving her vote for really friendless persons, it is like her affectation of superior virtue.”  Lady Angleby spoke and looked as if she were highly incensed.

Miss Hague was trembling all over, and begging that nothing more might be said on the subject.

“But there is no time to lose,” said her patroness, still more angrily.  “If you do not press on with your applications, you will be too late:  everybody will be engaged for the election in November.  The voting-list is on my writing-table—­the names I know are marked.  Go on with the letters in order, and I will sign them when I return from my drive.”

Miss Fairfax’s face was so pitiful and inquisitive that the substance of Lady Latimer’s letter was repeated to her.  It was to the effect that Miss Hague’s former pupils were of great and wealthy condition for the most part, and that they ought not to let her appeal to public charity, but to subscribe a sufficient pension for her amongst themselves; and out of the respect in which she herself held her, Lady Latimer offered five pounds annually towards it.  “And I think that is right,” said Bessie warmly.  “If you were my old governess, Miss Hague, I should be only too glad to subscribe.”

“Well, my dear young lady, I was your father’s governess and your uncles’ until they went to a preparatory school for Eton:  from Frederick’s being four years old to Geoffry’s being ten, I lived at Abbotsmead,” said Miss Hague.  “And here is another of my boys,” she added as the door opened and Sir Edward Lucas was announced.

“Then I will do what my father would have done had he been alive,” said Bessie.  “Perhaps my uncle Laurence will too.”

“What were you saying of me, dear Hoddydoddy?” asked Sir Edward, turning to the old lady when he had paid his devoirs to the rest.

The matter being explained to him, he was eager to contribute his fraction.  “Then leave the final arrangement to me,” said Lady Angleby.  “I will settle what is to be done.  You need not write any more of those letters, Miss Hague, and I trust these enthusiastic young people will not tire of what they have undertaken.  It is right, but if everybody did what is right on such occasions there would be little use for benevolent institutions.  Sir Edward, we were going to drive into Norminster:  will you take a seat in my carriage?”

Sir Edward would be delighted; and Miss Hague, released from her ladyship’s desk, went home happy, and in the midst of doubts and fears lest she had hurt the feelings of Mr. Jones wept the soft tears of grateful old age that meets with unexpected kindness.  The resolute expression of her sentiments by Miss Fairfax had inspired her with confidence, and she longed to see that young lady again.  In the letter of thanks she wrote to Lady Latimer she did not fail to mention how her judgment and example had been supported by that young disciple; and Lady Latimer, revolving the news with pleasure, began to think of paying a visit to Woldshire.