serious
pantomime, or an artificial curiosity, for nature was completely banished
her composition.

"Look at my lovely ward," she would exclaim, in rapture; "how totally
different she is from any other child! she will never be mistaken for one
of the lower order!"

True; but neither could she be mistaken for a gentlewoman: the appearance
of the child was that of a figurante, ready equipped for her part at the
opera; for, although in her twelfth year, she wore trowsers and petticoats
that did not reach to her knees; they were, it is true, trimmed with the
most costly Mechlin, formed by the most tasteful milliner; but as her shape
was by no means graceful, and her mode of life, by harassing her into puny
ill health, kept her wretchedly thin, she resembled at a distance a small
windmill about to be set in motion; and when near her, it was impossible
not to believe that her clothes had been stripped to the middle, for the
sake of washing her bony shoulders perfectly clean.

But, alas! the interior was more naked, or dressed in some parts merely
for exhibition: the poor child knew the steps of the last new dance and
the name of new music; she could finger a little, and knew a few words of
French from the vocabulary; but to the history of her country she was a
perfect stranger, and, what was far worse, was ignorant of all religion,
all duties. When she was out of temper, which was an increasing evil as
she grew up, she was told only that it "spoiled her face;" if she were
guilty of gluttony, she was warned against injuring her shape; but the real
motive of good action, the foundation of pure principles, the necessity of
self-control, were utterly unknown to her; she never saw them acted upon,
nor heard them explained.

Such was the girl who now, with a bustling parade of affection, singled out
Matilda as the only child whom she thought worthy of her patronage, and
whom she intended to win and to use, when it suited her, in the very same
way that ladies of twice her age so frequently make their selection of
friends in the acquaintance of an hour.

Miss Holdup was disappointed in perceiving that Matilda did not act as if
she were much pleased, or much flattered, by her partiality; but this she
imputed to pride, and being very proud herself, she concluded that, on a
little farther acquaintance, it would only render them better friends.
Besides, she observed that Ellen was at present the dearest friend of
Matilda; and althou