"Don't be alarmed," continued the strange being; "she's a safe hand is Mrs. Poole: close and quiet; any one may repose confidence in her. But, as I was saying: sitting in that window-seat, do you think of nothing but your future school? Have you no present interest in any of the company who occupy the sofas and chairs before you? Is there not one face you study? one figure whose movements you follow with at least curiosity?"

     "I like to observe all the faces and all the figures."

     "But do you never single one from the rest--or it may be, two?"

     "I do frequently; when the gestures or looks of a pair seem telling a tale: it amuses me to watch them."

     "What tale do you like best to hear?"

     "Oh, I have not much choice! They generally run on the same theme--courtship; and promise to end in the same catastrophe--marriage."

     "And do you like that monotonous theme?"

     "Positively, I don't care about it: it is nothing to me."