lose my place and character, and be driven again into the world, where I
have already suffered all the evils attendant on poverty."

This was touching Charlotte in the most vulnerable part: she rose from
her seat, and taking Mademoiselle's hand--"You know, my dear La Rue,"
said she, "I love you too well, to do anything that would injure you in
my governess's opinion: I am only sorry we went out this evening."

"I don't believe it, Charlotte," said she, assuming a little vivacity;
"for if you had not gone out, you would not have seen the gentleman who
met us crossing the field; and I rather think you were pleased with his
conversation."

"I had seen him once before," replied Charlotte, "and thought him an
agreeable man; and you know one is always pleased to see a person with
whom one has passed several cheerful hours. But," said she pausing,
and drawing the letter from her pocket, while a gentle suffusion of
vermillion tinged her neck and face, "he gave me this letter; what shall
I do with it?"

"Read it, to be sure," returned Mademoiselle.

"I am afraid I ought not," said Charlotte: "my mother has often told
me, I should never read a letter given me by a young man, without first
giving it to her."

"Lord bless you, my dear girl," cried the teacher smiling, "have you
a mind to be in leading strings all your life time. Prithee open the
letter, read it, and judge for yourself; if you show it your mother, the
consequence will be, you will be taken from school, and a strict guard