affectionate little jackal was in a tumult of
delight. Cinderella's carriage and four
could not have given much more joy. It
betokened something good for her friend
and idol.

In the parlour— chamber of horror or of
joy, where severe or doting parents sat
alternately— she was caught in the arms of
her dear father. He was come to tell some
great news. Their old cousin Panton had
died, that rich, cross old man, and had left
them a great fortune, and the beautiful
castle by the river, which she could see
from Miss Proudfoot's. They were now
rolling in wealth, he and his little girl.
At this the delicate girl slid off, and tossed
back her head; a curious look of exultation
and pride came into her eyes. But they
must both lose their dear old name: the
name their mamma bore, and take another,
which was quite as good, however.

"What matter," she said. " Who would
care; but was she to be an heiress?"

"Yes."

"And to have it all one day?"

The new Sir Charles was disturbed at
this question, and looked at her
thoughtfully.

"O yes," he said with a smile, " after
me, of course."

It was explained to her that the doctors
found the air of St. Arthur's so good for
her chest, she must remain a little longer
under Miss Proudfoot's kind care. (How
gladly would that lady, had she been
permitted, have engraved that high testimonial
on her programme: " In testimony of the
healthy and salubrious air of her establishment,
she is permitted proudly to refer to
her distinguished pupil, &c.")

She drew back pettishly at this scheme,
but it was shown to her that her stay
was to be under quite altered conditions.
She was to have a room to herself, no
lessons, wine every day, doctors every week,
to walk in the garden by herself or with
any young friend whom she preferred to
keep her company. She reflected: these
bribes were not to be resisted. Miss
Proudfoot had in the kindest manner given
permission. It was not mentioned then
that Miss Proudfoot had in the kindest
manner also agreed to accept double the
usual payment, in return for these
privileges. She called it being a " parlour
boarder."

In future that name of Panton made the
whole glory of that white plastered house,
with " grounds " at the back overlooking
the sea. This was a kind of melodious
bell, of gold or other precious metal, on
which the Principal rang with never-
flagging vigour, triple and quintuple bob
majors on the subject of their former
illustrious pupil. They were privileged, in
their programmes, to refer to Miss Panton,
of Panton Castle, who had received
instruction in the establishment. Reference
was also permitted to Sir Charles Panton, of
Panton. On Tuesdays and Saturdays the
pupils were accorded the kind permission
to take recreation in the grounds of Panton
Castle. To the parents and guardians who
had audience, the Misses Proudfoot, with
most ingenious powers of apropos, contrived
continually to draw in Sir Charles Panton
and his daughter, met every doubt and
objection with the same august names, and
illustrated the progress of the studies, by
scenes from the happy era when Miss
Panton pursued her studies there; and a
favourite tableau, as it were, often brought
forward for the visitor, was one in which
was grouped their illustrious pupil and
that other young lady.

The change in Laura from this hour was
scarcely conceivable. The new wealth of
a sudden made her healthy, animated,
and also inexpressibly arrogant. She rose
into a sort of queenship, taking
indescribable airs, which, alas for the
sycophancy which repeats itself even at this
small end of the worldly telescope, was
accepted and endured by the school and
its heads. But the worst feature was this:
it was noted that she quite " dropped" her
old friend and worshipper. This
conspicuous ingratitude even surprised these
other worldlings, for they had been saying
to each other, " That now Wright (or
Panton) would settle half her money upon
Bailey." For a long time the clergyman's
daughter herself could not see this strange
conduct, marked as it was, and unmistakable
even when she ran up to her idol at
first, scarcely able to contain her delight,
and was repulsed pettishly. For this and for
many more instances of ungracious
behaviour she could find excuses. It was so
natural now that Laura should have much
to think of; how could she think of her in
this turn of fortune! Any overlooking was
almost proper. When Miss Panton was
seen " walking " with a new friend,
suddenly elected to intimacy, no other than the
young lady whose sister had married the
baronet, she was not staggered. The
public understood it perfectly: the new
heiress was growing " fine;" but her young
worshipper alone could not believe it, and