interest in my future lot; they endeavored to
persuade my parents to send me to Warsaw to finish my education.

A foreigner, Miss Strumle, who, however, receives universally the title
of madame, has recently opened a young ladies' boarding school in
Warsaw. This school enjoys a high reputation, and all the young ladies
of distinction are sent there to finish their education. It is the same
for a young lady to have been some time at Madame Strumle's as for a
young gentlemen to have been at Luneville. The prince palatine advised
my mother to send me for a year to Madame Strumle. My parents prefer the
Sisters of the Holy Sacrament; they say that nothing can be better than
a convent.

I do not know what will be their final decision, but I feel restless and
agitated. I no longer find pleasure in my reading; my work is tedious to
me, and not so well executed as formerly; the future occupies my mind
much more than the present; in short, I am in a constant state of
excitement, as if awaiting some great event. Since the visit of the
prince and princess I have an entirely different opinion of myself, and
I am by no means so happy as I was before.... In truth, I no longer
understand myself.

Sunday, _March 24th_.

Ah I God be praised, my suspense is over, and we leave day after
to-morrow for Warsaw. My parents have been suddenly called there on
matters of business connected with the recent death of my uncle, Blaise
Krasinski, who has left a large fortune and no children. I do not yet
know whether I am to be placed at a boarding school or not, but I
believe it will be a long time before I return to Maleszow.

Ah! how happy the idea of this journey makes me! We will go a little out
of our way, that we may stop at Sulgostow. Her ladyship the starostine
has at length, after a very agreeable tour, returned to her palace. The
starost has introduced her to all his cousins, friends, and neighbors;
she was everywhere admirably received, and will now settle down in her
own mansion, at which prospect she is very well pleased; she has all the
necessary qualifications for becoming a good housekeeper. The Palatine
Swidzinski spoke of her so affectionately in one of his letters that my
parents wept hot tears, but tears of joy, so sweet and go rare. Barbara
has always been a source of happiness to her parents.

Warsaw, Sunday, _April 7th_.

I can scarcely believe it, but here I am fairly installed in Madame
Strumle's famous boarding s