on the following day, when I had the
honour of being admitted into her presence.
She was copious in person, and overflowing
in manner. She wore her black hair in long,
thick, glossy ringlets; and had a rich, rosy
colour in her cheeks that I greatly admired.
She was much addicted to ear-rings and gay
caps, which latter were always decked with a
profusion of brilliant ribbons, that fluttered
round her as she moved, and gave her quite
a rakish appearance, if I may apply such a
term to so respectable a lady. She had a
grand sweeping way with her in conversation,
as if she were showering sovereigns
around, and patronised everyone who had
anything whatever to do with her.

"Why, Salome, child, how brown you are
grown?" were her first words to her niece,
after coldly kissing her. "And freckled, too!
Why, you look a perfect fright. And my
last words to you were to beg of you to keep
out of the sun; and only to take a walk,
not too far at a time, in the cool of the
mornings and evenings. You see the effects
of being disobedient. I'm sure anybody
would take you for a milk-maid!"

She honoured my grandmother with a call,
and had the kindness to invite her to take
tea with her. She even condescended to
notice me, and I was much impressed
thereby.

"How comfortable it is to think," said
Mrs. Chinfeather, at the conclusion of her
visit, as she rose to go, "that respected old
age finds such an asylum as this! I almost
wish I were an old woman myself, that I
might apply for one of these cottages; they
are so pleasantly situated, and look so
picturesque. But, good morning, Mrs.
Wrangford. Come early, if you please; and you
can also bring your boy with you. I hear
that he is rather clever at his books; and I
like to encourage anything of that kind."

Mrs. Chinfeather received us with much
affability. Mrs. Graham and Mr. Carnforth
were already there. After tea was over,
whist was introduced: sixpenny points. Mrs.
Chinfeather never lost a game all the evening;
and of course, Mr. Carnforth, being her
partner, won also. Seated in my quiet
corner, unnoticed but observant, I could not
fail to see how Mrs. Chinfeather monopolised
Mr. Carnforth, and tried her best to fascinate
him; while he, unused to female society,
knew not what to make of all her delicate
attentions, patronisingly bestowed indeed;
but still very flattering, as coming from so
charming a lady. The very simplicity of
his character, however, defeated Mrs.
Chinfeather's tactics, and preserved him from a
danger that would have been fatal to many
others.

Mrs. Chinfeather was kind enough to give
me a serious book to read, which, I am
afraid, I didn't sufficiently benefit by. I sat
on a low stool on one side of the fire, and
Salome on the other. She, dear girl, had got
about half-a-score of tasks to learn, and her
aunt took care she did not waste much time;
hearing her repeat them in the intervals of
the games, or lecturing her on the evils of
idleness. I have never liked Lindley Murray
since that evening; he was so hard on poor
Salome, and rung such changes of mood and
tense in her brain, that he quite bewildered
her. She was no longer the Salome of the
previous fortnight—joyous, affectionate, and
blithe as a young bird; but Salome as I first
saw her—dull, languid, and apparently
insensible to everything but the drudgery
on which she was engaged. All life, all
animation, was gone; even the healthful
colour that had begun to mantle in her
cheeks had suddenly vanished. Only at
intervals a timid and sorrowful glance
revealed what was passing within. Mrs.
Chinfeather seemed gifted with ubiquitous eyes;
for, whenever I happened to forget for
a few moments the book in my hands, and
gazed over it at Salome in mute surprise,
I was sure to be quickly recalled to my duty
by that lady's short, dry cough, and by the
cold, penetrating glance of her slaty eyes,
which were I could feel, rather than see—
bent fixedly on me.

The hours wore slowly away, and the time
for departure at length arrived. Mrs.
Chinfeather's farewell was patronising and
affectionate in the extreme. She showered
sovereigns around her beneficently, as usual.
Salome arose, and was coming forward to
shake hands. "I cannot allow you to stir,"
said her aunt, imperatively, "till you have
completed your exercises on the Potential
Mood. Say 'Good night, all,' and go on with
your task."

"Good night, all," said Salome, with a
quivering voice. Her grandmother, however,
kissed her, and bade her farewell with much
affection.

"Ah, Mr. Carnforth," said Mrs. Chinfeather,
turning to the master, and pressing
his slender fingers in her warm, moist palms,
"you only want a wife to make you happy.
Your habits are charmingly domestic, I am
sure. Well, well; if I were only a little
younger! But I'll say no more. Good
night! Good night! You are a naughty
man, I believe."

Standing half-concealed in the shadow of
the gateway, at six o'clock the following
morning, I saw the mail-coach whirl past in
all its splendour. Salome's quick eye
discerned me where I stood; and she kissed her
hand and gave me a parting smile; and that
was the last I saw of her for many a long year.

After her departure I sunk back, by degrees,
into my old way of life; though it was a hard
trial at first. My rambles in the country
became altogether distasteful, now that
I had no longer Salome for a companion.
Only from books could I still derive some
degree of pleasure; and, being debarred from