this laughing. I perceived that Bessie's glance, though it
expressed regard, did in no shape denote admiration.

"No, Miss Jane, not exactly. You are genteel enough; you
look like a lady, and it is as much as I expected of you: you
were no beauty as a child."

I smiled at Bessie's frank answer: I felt that it was correct,
but I confess I was not quite indifferent to its import. At
eighteen most people wish to please, and the conviction that
they have not an exterior likely to second that desire brings
anything but gratification.

"I dare say you are clever, though," continued Bessie, by
way of solace. "What can you do? Can you play on the
piano?"

"A little."

There was one in the room; Bessie went and opened it, and
then asked me to sit down and to give her a tune: I played
a waltz or two, and she was charmed.

"The Miss Reeds could not play as well!" said she exult-
ingly. "I always said you would surpass them in learning:
and can you draw?"

"That is one of my paintings over the chimney-piece." It
was a landscape in water-colours, of which I had made a pres-
ent to the superintendent, in acknowledgment of her obliging
mediation with the committee on my behalf, and which she
had framed and glazed.

"Well, that is beautiful, Miss Jane! It is as fine a picture as
any Miss Reed's drawing-master could paint, let alone the
young ladies themselves, who could not come near it: and
have you learnt French?"

"Yes, Bessie, I can both read it and speak it."

"And you can work on muslin and canvas?"

"I can."

"Oh, you are quite a lady, Miss Jane! I knew you would be;
you will get on whether your relations notice you or not.
There was something I wanted to ask you. Have you heard
anything from your father's kinsfolk, the Eyres?"

"Never in my life."

"Well, you know Missis always said they were poor and
quite despicable: and they may be poor; but I believe they are
as much gentry as the Reeds are; for one day, nearly seven

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