To a long-drawn letter of the superior of the establishment, filled with the usual expressions of delight at her daughter’s progress, a brief postscript was attached, with a second from the hand of a gentleman in employment there as an Assistant, both of which we here communicate.

POSTSCRIPT OF THE SUPERIOR

“Of Ottilie, I can only repeat to your ladyship what I have already stated in my former letters.  I do not know how to find fault with her, yet I cannot say that I am satisfied.  She is always unassuming, always ready to oblige others; but it is not pleasing to see her so timid, so almost servile.

“Your ladyship lately sent her some money, with several little matters for her wardrobe.  The money she has never touched, the dresses lie unworn in their place.  She keeps her things very nice and very clean; but this is all she seems to care about.  Again, I cannot praise her excessive abstemiousness in eating and drinking.  There is no extravagance at our table, but there is nothing that I like better than to see the children eat enough of good, wholesome food.  What is carefully provided and set before them ought to be taken; and to this I never can succeed in bringing Ottilie.  She is always making herself some occupation or other, always finding something which she must do, something which the servants have neglected, to escape the second course or the dessert; and now it has to be considered (which I cannot help connecting with all this) that she frequently suffers, I have lately learnt, from pain in the left side of her head.  It is only at times, but it is distressing, and may be of importance.  So much upon this otherwise sweet and lovely girl.”

SECOND POSTSCRIPT, BY THE ASSISTANT

“Our excellent superior commonly permits me to read the letters in which she communicates her observations upon her pupils to their parents and friends.  Such of them as are addressed to your ladyship I ever read with twofold attention and pleasure.  We have to congratulate you upon a daughter who unites in herself every brilliant quality with which people distinguish themselves in the world; and I at least think you no less fortunate in having had bestowed upon you, in your step-daughter, a child who has been born for the good and happiness of others, and assuredly also for her own.  Ottilie is almost our only pupil about whom there is a difference of opinion between myself and our reverend superior.  I do not complain of the very natural desire in that good lady to see outward and definite fruits arising from her labors.  But there are also fruits which are not outward, which are of the true germinal sort, and which develop themselves sooner or later in a beautiful life.  And this I am certain is the case with your protegee.  So long as she has been under my care, I have watched her moving with an even step, slowly, steadily forward—­never back.  As with a child it is necessary to begin everything at the beginning, so it is with her.  She can comprehend nothing which does not follow from what precedes it; let a thing be as simple and easy as possible, she can make nothing of it if it is not in a recognizable connection; but find the intermediate links, and make them clear to her, and then nothing is too difficult for her.