s kind messages and her own sunshiny brightness; she had delighted
Mrs. Curtis and Grace by appreciating their views and their flowers;
she had discussed hymnals and chants with Mr. Touchett, and promised her
services; she had given a brilliant object lesson at Mrs. Kelland's, and
received one herself in lace-making; and had proved herself, to Rachel's
satisfaction, equally practical and well-read. All the outer world was
asking, "Have you seen the young lady with Lady Temple?"

Nothing came amiss to her, from the antiquity of man to Stephana's first
words; and whether she taught Grace new stitches, played cricket with
Conrade, made boats for Cyril, prattled with Lady Temple, or studied
with Rachel, all was done with grace, zest, and sympathy peculiarly
her own. Two practisings at the school removed the leaden drawl, and
lessened the twang of the choir; and Mr. Touchett looked quite exalted,
while even Rachel owned that she had hardly believed her ears.

Rachel and she constituted themselves particular friends, and Grace kept
almost aloof in the fear of disturbing them. She had many friends, and
this was the first, except Ermine Williams, to whom Rachel had taken,
since a favourite companion of her youth had disappointed her by a
foolish marriage. Bessie's confidences had a vigour in them that even
Rachel's half-way meetings could not check, and then the sharp, clever
things she would say, in accordance with Rachel's views, were more
sympathetic than anything she had met with. It was another new charm to
life.

One great pleasure they enjoyed together was bathing. The Homestead
possessed a little cove of its own under the rocks, where there was
a bathing-house, and full perfection of arrangement for young ladies'
aquatic enjoyment, in safety and absolute privacy. Rachel's vigorous
strength and health had been greatly promoted by her familiarity with
salt water, and Bessie was in ecstasies at the naiad performances they
shared together on the smooth bit of sandy shore, where they dabbled and
floated fearlessly. One morning, when they had been down very early to
be beforehand with the tide, which put a stop to their enjoyment long
before the breakfast hour, Bessie asked if they could not profit
by their leisure to climb round the edge of the cliff's instead of
returning by the direct path, and Rachel agreed, with the greater
pleasure, that it was an enterprise she had seldom performed.

Very beautiful, though adventuro