Bodily health was after all the first thing, especially in the case of girls.

A couple of hours' school in the morning, one hour given to preparation of lessons after tea--this for the present was deemed quite enough.

'Your companionship throughout the day will always be forming their minds,' Mrs.Rossall said in one of her earliest conversations with Emily; it was pleasantly put, and truer than it would have been in the ease of many instructresses.

The twins were not remarkably fond of their lessons, but in Emily's hands they became docile and anxious to please.
She had the art of winning their affection without losing control over them; had Mrs.Bossall's rather languid habits of mind allowed her to give attention to the subject, she would have been struck with the singular combination of tenderness and reverence which the two entertained towards their teacher.

Little laxities of behaviour arid phrase upon which their mother's presence would be no check, they did not venture to allow themselves when with Emily; her only reproof was a steady gaze, eloquent of gentleness, but it proved quite sufficient.