hair. I could not help pitying him.

The wind howled dismally without, and the rain beat furiously
against the windows. I crept toward him and seated myself on a low
stool beside his chair.

Presently he turned, without seeing me, and placed his foot
absently in my lap. I affected not to notice it. But he started
and looked down.

"You here yet--Carrothead? Ah, I forgot. Do you speak French?"

"Oui, Monsieur"

"Taisez-vous!" he said sharply, with singular purity of accent. I
complied. The wind moaned fearfully in the chimney, and the light
burned dimly. I shuddered in spite of myself. "Ah, you tremble,
girl!"

"It is a fearful night."

"Fearful! Call you this fearful, ha! ha! ha! Look! you wretched
little atom, look!" and he dashed forward, and, leaping out of the
window, stood like a statue in the pelting storm, with folded arms.
He did not stay long, but in a few minutes returned by way of the
hall chimney. I saw from the way that he wiped his feet on my
dress that he had again forgotten my presence.

"You are a governess. What can you teach?" he asked, suddenly and
fiercely thrusting his face in mine.