The Story of a Governess

Author:

Downloads: 28

Visits: 1

Pages: 521

Published: 2 years ago

Rating: Rated: 0 times

  • 1 star
  • 2 stars
  • 3 stars
  • 4 stars
  • 5 stars

Read One Book Free!

Become a member of Free-Ebooks.net and you can download one free book.

Already a member? Login here

Membership requires a valid email address. We DO NOT spam and do not allow others access to your private information.

Book Description HTML

Janet Summerhayes did not start in life with the feelings usually attributed to the young governess when beginning what is certainly a very thankless trade, with about as little prospect of continued prosperity as any in the world. Many representations of that sad and resigned young heroine have appeared before the world. We all know the appearance of the slight girl in deep mourning shyly coming into a strange house and a new world, shrinking alike from kindness and neglect; feeling that she is likely to be shut out there from everything that is agreeable, expecting humiliation, and, if not ready to take offence, at least quite aware that nobody is likely to take her feelings into consideration, or think that she is made of young flesh and blood like the others. There are many excuses for this frame of mind, and in many cases the worst prognostics are carried out. But I am very glad to say that this was not at all the idea with which the subject of this story prepared to go forth upon the world. Her position up to this time had not been like that of the young and gentle governess of romance, an exceptionally sheltered and happy one. She had not been the only daughter of a doting father or mother, whose want of means to provide for her was only discovered upon their sudden death. On the contrary, Janet’s experience was entirely that of a dependent. It is true the dependence was more or less a natural one. She was a relation of her patroness, and she had grown up from childhood in Miss Philipson’s house, without any consciousness that it was not her home, and with much of the feelings of a child, always subject, always liable to be ordered about and reproved, and little considered, but only in a way common to children. She had been very well educated on the whole, very well cared for, nicely dressed, since that was quite according to the fitness of things, and not allowed in anything to fall behind the neighboring girls of her age in any pleasure or accomplishment. It would have been contrary to Miss Philipson’s credit, and it would have impaired her comfort, if Janet had not been on a level with the rest, or if she had not been cheerful and happy in her life. She was always kind to the girl, not being naturally unkind to anyone. She liked to have everything pleasant about her, and she had a conscience besides—both which things were very good for her little cousin. She did not provide for Janet, but that was all—and indeed, having done so much for her, and given her on the whole such a happy life up to her twentieth year, there was no failure of duty in this; and though some of Janet’s friends were inclined to blame Miss Philipson, Janet herself was much more just, and neither felt nor expressed any blame.

Reader Reviews
loading comments
Add a comment: (You need to login to post a comment)
Rate this title:

Other books by author...

  • A Little Pilgrim in the Unseen
    A Little Pilgrim in the Unseen Fiction by Mrs. Oliphant
    A Little Pilgrim in the Unseen
    A Little Pilgrim in the Unseen

    Reads:
    58

    Pages:
    91

    Published:
    Mar 2022

    THE LITTLE PILGRIM IN THE SEEN AND UNSEEN. The little Pilgrim, whose story has been told in another place, and who had arrived but lately on the Other side, a...

    Formats: PDF, Epub, Kindle, TXT

  • Within the Precincts: Volume 3
    Within the Precincts: Volume 3 Fiction Classics by Mrs. Oliphant
    Within the Precincts: Volume 3
    Within the Precincts: Volume 3

    Reads:
    70

    Pages:
    204

    Published:
    Mar 2022

    Held its reverend court upon the hill. The Abbey was as splendid as any cathedral, and possessed a dean and chapter, though no bishop. It was of Late Gothic, ...

    Formats: PDF, Epub, Kindle, TXT

  • Within the Precincts: Volume 2
    Within the Precincts: Volume 2 Fiction Classics by Mrs. Oliphant
    Within the Precincts: Volume 2
    Within the Precincts: Volume 2

    Reads:
    70

    Pages:
    223

    Published:
    Mar 2022

    Held its reverend court upon the hill. The Abbey was as splendid as any cathedral, and possessed a dean and chapter, though no bishop. It was of Late Gothic, ...

    Formats: PDF, Epub, Kindle, TXT

  • Within the Precincts: Volume 1
    Within the Precincts: Volume 1 Fiction Classics by Mrs. Oliphant
    Within the Precincts: Volume 1
    Within the Precincts: Volume 1

    Reads:
    78

    Pages:
    230

    Published:
    Mar 2022

    Held its reverend court upon the hill. The Abbey was as splendid as any cathedral, and possessed a dean and chapter, though no bishop. It was of Late Gothic, ...

    Formats: PDF, Epub, Kindle, TXT