nces, after
her marriage to the young midshipman--and here is the result.

MR. MEDHURST AND THE PRINCESS.

I.

THE day before I left London, to occupy the post of second secretary of
legation at a small German Court, I took leave of my excellent French
singing-master, Monsieur Bonnefoy, and of his young and pretty daughter
named Jeanne.

Our farewell interview was saddened by Monsieur Bonnefoy's family
anxieties. His elder brother, known in the household as Uncle David,
had been secretly summoned to Paris by order of a republican society.
Anxious relations in London (whether reasonably or not, I am unable to
say) were in some fear of the political consequences that might follow.

At parting, I made Mademoiselle Jeanne a present, in the shape of
a plain gold brooch. For some time past, I had taken my lessons at
Monsieur Bonnefoy's house; his daughter and I often sang together under
his direction. Seeing much of Jeanne, under these circumstances, the
little gift that I had offered to her was only the natural expression of
a true interest in her welfare. Idle rumor asserted--quite falsely--that
I was in love with her. I was sincerely the young lady's friend: no
more, no less.

Having alluded to my lessons in singing, it may not be out of place
to mention the circumstances under which I became Monsieur Bonnefoy's
pupil, and to allude to the change in my life that followed in due
course of time.

Our family property--excepting the sum of five thousand pounds left to
me by my mother--is landed property strictly entailed. The estates were
inherited by my only brother, Lord Medhurst; the kindest, the best, and,
I grieve to say it, the unhappiest of men. He lived separated from a
bad wife; he had no children to console him; and he only enjoyed at rare
intervals the blessing of good health. Having myself nothing to live on
but the interest of my mother's little fortune, I had to make my own way
in the world. Poor younger sons, not possessed of the commanding ability
which achieves distinction, find the roads that lead to prosperity
closed to them, with one exception. They can always apply themselves to
the social arts which make a man agreeable in society. I had naturally
a good voice, and I cultivated it. I was ready to sing, without being
subject to the wretched vanity which makes objections and excuses--I
pleased the ladies--the ladies spoke favorably of me to their
husbands--and some of their husbands were pe