ed the sonata, and then dropping her fingers on the keys,
said, "Now, Valerie, do you know what was one of my wild dreams which
assisted in inducing me to come here? I'll tell you. I know that I
shall never find a husband at my father's house. All well-bred people,
if they once go there, do not go a second time, and, whatever may be the
merits of the daughter, they have no time to find them out, and leave
the house, with the supposition that she, having been educated in so bad
a school, must be unworthy of notice. Now I mean, if I can, to elope
from school, that is if I can find a gentleman to my fancy--not to
Gretna Green but as soon as I am married, to go to my aunt Bathurst
direct, and you know that once under a husband's protection, my father
and mother have no control over me. Will you assist my views, Valerie?
It's the only chance I have of happiness."

"A very pretty confession for a young lady, not yet eighteen," replied
I; "and a very pretty question to put to me, who have been your
governess, Caroline. I am afraid that you must not look to me for
assistance, but consider it, as you termed it at first, a wild dream."

"Nevertheless, dreams come true sometimes," replied Caroline, laughing;
"and all I require is birth and character: you know that I must have
plenty of money."

"But, my dear Caroline, it is not people of birth and character who
prowl round boarding-schools in search of heiresses."

"I know that; and that was why I asked you to help me. At all events,
I'll not leave this place till I am married, or going to be married,
that's certain, if I stay here till I'm twenty-five."

"Well, do not make rash resolutions; but surely, Caroline, you have not
reason to complain of your parents' treatment; they are kind and
affectionate towards you."

"Indeed they are not, nor were they from the time that I returned to
them with you. They try by force to make me espouse their own incorrect
notions of right and wrong, and it is one scene of daily altercation.
They abuse and laugh at aunt Bathurst, I believe on purpose to vex me;
and, having never lived with them from my infancy, of course, when I met
them I had to learn to love them. I was willing so to do,
notwithstanding their unkindness to my aunt, whom I love so dearly, but
they would not let me; and now I really believe that they care little
about me, and would care nothing, if I were not their only daughter, for
you know, perhaps, that both my b