with invention; at heading her table gracefully, and making her guests comfortable; at managing refractory servants and detecting dishonest tradespeople, she was the equa

nged, the light and shade were disposed, the flowers were attractively placed, under Mrs. Gallilee's infallible superint

sitting-room upstairs, were in a position of i

a young lady in a swoon, with all the anxiety and alarm which he might have shown in the case of a near and dear friend. And yet, when this str

er conduct compli

n the usual way? There she lay on the sofa, alternately flushing and turning pale when she was spoken to; ill at ease in the most comfortable house in London; timid and confused under the care o

of enlightenment. The wrinkled duenna, sitting miserably on satin supported by frail gilt legs, seemed to take her tone of feeling from her young mistress, exactly as she took her orde

be just as difficult to

eness which presented him in a new character. His customary manner with ailing persons, women as well as men, was rather abrupt: his quick perception hurried him into taking the words out of their mouths (too pleasantly to give offence) when they were describing their symptoms. There he sat n

could endure

ave interested instead of perplexing her. As it was, her scientific education left her as completely in the dark, where questions of sentiment were concerned, as if her ex

Ovid," she began, "Carmina must no

ose words stung

he repeated. "You talk as

et smile stop

at may happen," s

He spoke so fervently that the wo

niece, and proceeded quiet

away from us to-morrow. We will leave you for the present with your old friend. Pray ring, if you

it. The duenna followed on tiptoe - folded her thumb and two middle fingers into the palm of her hand - and, stretching out the forefinger and the little finger,

his little attentions gratefully, Carmina checked him with innocent familiarity as he left his chair. "I must tha

em with interest, c

leave. "I shall call and see how you are to-morrow," he said, "before I go." He nodded kindly to Teresa. Instead of being satisfied with that act of courtesy, she wanted something more. "May I shake hands?" she asked. Mrs. Gallilee was a Liberal in politics; never had her principles been tried, as they were tried when she heard thos

and Ovid met the footman. "Mr. Mool i

, Ovid, for the next hal

? If it's law-business, I am af

late uncle's Will," Mrs. Gallilee answered. "You may hav

He asked an idle question. "I heard of their findin

he people in Italy made up their minds, at last, to have the furniture in your uncle's room taken to pieces, they found the Will. It had slipped behind a drawer, in a

he had a legacy "I am not as much interested in it as you are," he explained. "Plenty of

in the hall, with an a

n a dreadful st

told you, only yesterday? The Wi

himself, "that I was not reminded of it, when I saw Carmina's rooms prepared for her." His mother, anxiousl

e said. "You are quite right. I ought to h

no remark. Something seemed to move feebly under her powder and pa

ed to the schoolroom. She had lingered on the upper landi