turn an honest penny, and lay up something for a rainy day.  Not that I think there is the least danger, unless you are forward enough to put yourself in this gentleman’s way, because men think so much of beauty, that plain girls like you are most always apt to be overlooked, but my conscience would reprove me if I did not warn you.  Remember my advice!  Listen to no flatteries; permit no nonsense to be poured into your ears, and shun, as you would contagion, the deceitful wiles of man.”

She waved her hand majestically to Clemence, and disappeared up the dark staircase, for they had, by this time, reached home.

Hardly knowing whether to laugh or cry, the young girl went in search of her mother and kind Mrs. Mann, to confide her troubles, feeling sure of their cordial sympathy.

It is just possible that there was the least perceptible haughtiness in the calm “good morning,” with which Clemence next met Mr. Vaughn.  In spite of the remembrance of his many cordial kindnesses, the malicious insinuations of Mrs. Bailey had produced an impression on her mind, which she could not disregard.

“It is too true, she thought, bitterly.  Alas! for the unprotected and helpless of my sex, men of wealth and position rarely offer an honorable suit to women of a lower standing in society.  I will have as little as possible to say to this fine gentleman.”

* * * * *

But that was more easily said than done.  It seemed almost impossible to avoid him.  And it happened on one occasion that the languid lady of the mansion, (who should have been the one most interested in the progress of Clemence’s little pupils, but who really seemed, at times, to have even forgotten their existence,) entered the school-room somewhat unexpectedly, and saw what aroused a new train of thought in her mind, and made her resolve quietly to keep a close watch upon Miss Graystone’s movements in future, if not dispense with her services altogether.  The lessons were ended, the books put away for the day, and the two girls were looking with bright, eager eyes into the kind face of Mr. Wilfred Vaughn, who was relating a marvellous story of such absorbing interest, that the elder of the children, a dark-eyed girl, who inherited somewhat of her mother’s beauty and wilfulness, had insisted that her pet teacher should stay and hear.  There was a moment of embarrassed silence, as Mrs. Vaughn appeared in the doorway, but the gentleman rose to offer her a chair, without appearing to notice the astonishment depicted in her countenance, or the half repressed sneer in the careless—­

* * * * *

“What! you here, Will?  Rather a new occupation, is it not?  You were not so fond of visiting the school-room when poor Miss Smith was its presiding genius.  I am glad to find that Miss Graystone meets with your approval.”

“The children certainly are doing well,” he responded, “Alice especially; but, I am afraid Miss Graystone is applying herself too closely to the work of improvement.  You must see to it, Gracia, for you could illy afford to lose so valuable a prize.”