seated, and had just commenced our work, I happened to look up, and
caught her eyes intently fixed on me. They dropped instantly, but
without any appearance of confusion. She went on with her arithmetic,
and succeeded tolerably. But this respite was to be of short duration.
Lady Hilton again entered, and called her. She rose angrily, and my
quick ear caught the half-uttered words, "That woman will make an idiot
of me again!" She did not return; and never from that hour resumed her
place in the schoolroom.

The time passed heavily. At dinner she looked proud and constrained; and
spoke only in monosyllables.

For two days I scarcely saw her. But the third day, as I was busy in the
library alone, she entered.

"Can I help you, Mr. Campbell?" she said.

I glanced involuntarily towards the door.

"Lady Hilton is not at home," she replied to my look, while a curl of
indignation contended with a sweet tremor of shame for the possession of
her lip.--"Let me help you."

"You will help me best if you sing that ballad I heard you singing just
before you came in. I never heard you sing before."

"Didn't you? I don't think I ever did sing before."

"Sing it again, will you, please?"