to London, the glass-coach, round as a pumpkin, would hold six, and
we all went away together.

I was very much pleased at thus meeting with Madame Bathurst, and our
reconciliation, and quite as much so for Caroline's sake; for, although
she had at first said that she would write to her aunt, she had put it
off continually for reasons which she had never expressed to me. I
rather think that she feared her aunt might prove a check on her, and I
was, therefore, very glad that they had met, as now Madame Bathurst
would look after her.

During the evening, I observed that Adele and Caroline had a long
conversation _sotto voce_. I suspected that the gentleman, at whose
appearance she had coloured up, was the subject of it. The next day
Madame Bathurst called, and heard a detailed account of all that had
passed from Caroline and from me since we had parted. She said that as
Caroline was put to the school by her father, of course she could not
remove her, but that she would call and see her as often as she could.
She congratulated me upon my little independence, and trusted that we
should ever be on friendly terms, and that I would come and visit her
whenever my avocations would permit me. As there were still three weeks
of the holidays remaining, she proposed that we should come and pass a
portion of the time with her at a villa which she had upon the banks of
the Thames.

She said that Caroline's father and mother were down at Brighton, giving
very gay parties. Having arranged the time that the carriage should
come for us on the following day, she kissed us both affectionately, and
went away.

The next day we were at Richmond in a delightful cottage _ornee_; and
there we remained for more than a fortnight. To me it was a time of
much happiness, for it was like the renewal of old times, and I was
sorry when the visit was over.

On my return, I found a pressing invitation for Caroline and me to go to
Kew, and remain two or three days; and, as we had still time to pay the
visit, it was accepted; but, before we went Adele came to see us, and,
after a little general conversation, requested that she might speak to
me in my own room.

"Valerie," said Adele, as soon as we were seated, "I know that you think
me a wild girl, and perhaps I am so; but I am not quite so wild as I
thought myself, for now that I am in a critical position, I come to you
for advice, and for advice against my own feelings, for I tell you
frank