le to
avoid him. And it happened on one occasion that the languid lady of the
mansion, (who should have been the one most interested in the progress
of Clemence's little pupils, but who really seemed, at times, to have
even forgotten their existence,) entered the school-room somewhat
unexpectedly, and saw what aroused a new train of thought in her mind,
and made her resolve quietly to keep a close watch upon Miss Graystone's
movements in future, if not dispense with her services altogether. The
lessons were ended, the books put away for the day, and the two girls
were looking with bright, eager eyes into the kind face of Mr. Wilfred
Vaughn, who was relating a marvellous story of such absorbing interest,
that the elder of the children, a dark-eyed girl, who inherited somewhat
of her mother's beauty and wilfulness, had insisted that her pet teacher
should stay and hear. There was a moment of embarrassed silence, as Mrs.
Vaughn appeared in the doorway, but the gentleman rose to offer her a
chair, without appearing to notice the astonishment depicted in her
countenance, or the half repressed sneer in the careless--

* * * * *

"What! _you_ here, Will? Rather a new occupation, is it not? You were
not so fond of visiting the school-room when poor Miss Smith was its
presiding genius. I am glad to find that Miss Graystone meets with your
approval."

"The children certainly are doing well," he responded, "Alice
especially; but, I am afraid Miss Graystone is applying herself too
closely to the work of improvement. You must see to it, Gracia, for you
could illy afford to lose so valuable a prize."

Clemence's face crimsoned at this personality, and an angry gleam shot
from his sister-in-law's eyes, that amused the gentleman not a little.
He understood her thoroughly, or thought he did, and knew the look boded
no good for Clemence. But he was hardly prepared for the shock, when a
day or two after, little Alice came to him with her face bathed in
tears, and throwing herself into his arms, exclaimed, amid her sobs--

"Oh, uncle, Miss Graystone has gone away, and is not coming back any
more, for mamma says so! She called her an artful piece, and said she
was trying to captivate you with her pretty face. What is captivate,
uncle? Is it anything so very dreadful? I know it ain't to be cross and
push me away, as mamma does, for Miss Graystone never did that, but only
loved me, and told me nice stories.