kept over you; so you will stand no chance of ever seeing the smart
young officer again."

"I should not like to leave school yet," replied Charlotte, "till I have
attained a greater proficiency in my Italian and music. But you can, if
you please, Mademoiselle, take the letter back to Montraville, and
tell him I wish him well, but cannot, with any propriety, enter into a
clandestine correspondence with him." She laid the letter on the table,
and began to undress herself.

"Well," said La Rue, "I vow you are an unaccountable girl: have you
no curiosity to see the inside now? for my part I could no more let a
letter addressed to me lie unopened so long, than I could work miracles:
he writes a good hand," continued she, turning the letter, to look at
the superscription.

"'Tis well enough," said Charlotte, drawing it towards her.

"He is a genteel young fellow," said La Rue carelessly, folding up her
apron at the same time; "but I think he is marked with the small pox."

"Oh you are greatly mistaken," said Charlotte eagerly; "he has a
remarkable clear skin and fine complexion."

"His eyes, if I could judge by what I saw," said La Rue, "are grey and
want expression."

"By no means," replied Charlotte; "they are the most expressive eyes
I ever saw." "Well, child, whether they are grey or black is of no
consequence: you have determined not to read his letter; so it is likely