edatthisfaircreature:Iadmiredherwithmywholeheart.Naturehadsurelyformedherinapartialmood;and,fettingherusualstiep-motherdoleofgifts,hadehis,herdarling,withagrand-dame’sbounty.

    WhatdidSt.Johhinkofthisearthlyangel?InaturallyaskedmyselfthatquestionasIsawhimturntoherandlookather;and,asnaturally,Isoughttheaheinquiryinhistenance.HehadalreadywithdrawnhiseyefromthePeri,andwaslookingatahumbletuftofdaisieswhichgrewbythewicket.

    “Alovelyevening,butlateforyoutobeoutalone,”hesaid,ashecrushedthesnowyheadsoftheclosedflowerswithhisfoot.

    “Oh,IonlycamehomefromS-”(shementiohenameofalargetowwentymilesdistant)“thisafternoon.Papatoldmeyouhadopenedyourschool,andthatthenewmistresswase;andsoIputonmyboertea,andranupthevalleytoseeher:thisisshe?”pointingtome.

    “Itis,”saidSt.John.

    “DoyouthinkyoushalllikeMorton?”sheaskedofme,withadirednaivesimplicityoftoneandmanner,pleasing,ifchild-like.

    “IhopeIshall.Ihavemanyistodoso.”

    “Didyoufindyourscholarsasattentiveasyouexpected?”

    “Quite.”

    “Doyoulikeyourhouse?”

    “Verymuch.”

    “HaveIfurnicely?”

    “Verynicely,indeed.”

    “AndmadeagoodchoiceofanattendantforyouinAliceWood?”

    “Youhaveindeed.Sheisteachableandhandy.”(Thisthen,Ithought,isMissOliver,theheiress;favoured,itseems,isoffortune,aswellasinthoseofnature!pybinationoftheplaspresidedoverherbirth,Iwonder?)

    “Ishalleupandhelpyoutoteaetimes,”sheadded.“Itwillbeageformetovisityounowandthen;andIlikeage.Mr.Rivers,IhavebeenSOgayduringmys