Charlotte, at school, had no plan of life beyond what circumstances made for her.

She knew that she must provide for herself, and chose her trade; at least chose to begin it once.

Her idea of self-improvement ruled her even at school.

It was to cultivate her tastes.

She always said there was enough of hard practicality and _useful_ knowledge forced on us by necessity, and that the thing most needed was to soften and refine our minds.