hip's," said she, with a look the most
finished coquette might envy, so admirably blended were trust and timid
bashfulness.

What he replied I could not catch. There was a flattering courtesy,
however, in his smile, and in the familiar motion of the hand with which
he bade "good-bye," that were enough to show me that he, the haughty
mirror of his sovereign, did not think it beneath him to bandy
compliments and exchange soft looks with the once humble beauty. From
that time out, my whole thoughts day and night were centred in her; and
I have passed hours long, fancying all the possible fortunes for which
destiny might intend her. It seemed to me as though she was piloting out
the course for me in life, and that her success was the earnest of my
own. Often, when a ball or a great reception was given by her, have
I sat, cold, shivering, and hungry, opposite the house, watching with
thrilling interest all the equipages as they came, and hearing the high
and titled names called aloud by the servants, and thinking to myself,
"Such are _her_ associates _now_. These great and haughty personages are
here to do honor to _her_, their lovely hostess; and _she_, but a
few years back, if report spoke truly, was scarcely better off than I
was--I--myself."

Only they who have a sanguine, hopeful temperament will be able to
understand how the poor houseless, friendless boy--the very outcast
of the world, the convict's child--could ever dare to indulge in such
day-dreams of future greatness. But I had set the goal before my eyes;
the intermediate steps to it I left to fortune. The noble bearing and
polished graces of the high and wealthy, which to my humble associates
seemed the actual birthright of the great, I perceived could all be
acquired. There was no prescriptive claim in any class to the manners
of high breeding; and why should not I, if fortune favored, be as good
a gentleman as the best? In other particulars, all that I had observed
showed me no wondrous dissimilarity of true feeling in the two classes.
The gentleman, to be sure, did not swear like the common fellow; but on
the racecourse or the betting-ground I had seen, to the full, as much
deceit as ever I witnessed in my "own order." There was faithlessness
beneath Valenciennes lace and velvet as well as beneath brown stuff and
check; and a spirit of backbiting, that we ragged folk knew nothing of,
seemed a current pastime in better circles.

What, then, should debar me