Before I could remonstrate or detach myself from her, she had twisted herself about, in a peculiarly supple and child-like manner that she had, and had made the suggestion to him.

He was immeasurably surprised, no doubt, but he gave no sign of it.  After a silence of two or three instants, during which, I think, he was occupied in trying to find a way to decline, he assented very sedately.

Charlotte Benson and her friend, who were behind us, were enraged at this proceeding.  During the week they had all been in the house together, they had never gone beyond speaking terms with the tutor, and this they had agreed was the best way to keep things, and it seemed to be his wish no less than theirs.  Here was this saucy girl, in want of amusement, upsetting all their plans.  They shortly declined to go to walk with us:  and so Mary Leighton, Mr. Langenau, and I started alone toward the river.

It must be confessed, Miss Leighton was not rewarded for her effort, for a stiffer and more uncomfortable companion could not be imagined.  He entirely declined to respond to her coquetry, and she very soon found she must abandon this role; but she was nothing if not coquettish, and the conversation flagged uncomfortably.  Before we reached home she was quite impatient, and ran up the steps, when we got there, as if it were a great relief.  The tutor raised his hat when he left us at the door, turned back, and disappeared for the rest of the evening.

The next morning, coming down-stairs half an hour before breakfast, I went into the library (a little room at the right of the front door), for a book I had left there.  I threw myself into an easy-chair, and opened it, when I caught sight of the tutor, reading at the window.  I half started to my feet, and then sank back again in confusion; for what was there to go away for?

He rose and bowed, and resumed his seat and his book.

The room was quite small, and we were very near each other.  How I could possibly have missed seeing him as I entered, now surprised me.  I longed to go away, but did not dare do anything that would seem rude.  He appeared very much engrossed with his book, but I, for my part, could not read a word, and was only thinking how I could get away.  Possibly he guessed at my embarrassment, for after about ten minutes he arose, and coming up to the table by which I sat, he took up a card, and placed it in his book for a mark, and shut it up, then made some remark to me about the day.

The color was coming and going in my face.

He must have felt sorry or curious, for he did not go directly away, and continued to talk of things that did not require me to answer him.

I do not know what it was about his voice that was so different from the ordinary voices of people.  There was a quality in it that I had never heard in any other.  But perhaps it was in the ear that listened, as well as the voice that spoke.  And apart from the tones, the words I never could forget.  The most trivial things that he ever said to me, I can remember to this day.