adshaw thinks that the reputation of
her school is ruined by Adele's flight. She has drunk at least two
bottles of eau-de-Cologne and water to keep off the hysterics, and is
now lying on the sofa, talking in a very incoherent way. Miss Phipps
says she thinks her head is affected."

"I should think it was," replied I. "Well, is that all?"

"All! why, Valerie, you appear to think nothing of an elopement. All!
why is it not horrible?"

"I do not think it very horrible, Caroline; but I am glad to find that
you have such correct ideas on that point, as it satisfies me that
nothing would induce you to take such a step."

"Well," replied Caroline, quickly, "what I had also to communicate is,
that I have seen my father, who informed me that on their return from
Brighton in October, they expect that I will come home. He said that it
was high time that I was settled in life, and that I could not expect to
be married if I remained at a boarding-school."

"Well, and what did you say?"

"I said that I did not expect to be married, and I did not wish it; that
I thought my education was far from complete, and that I wished to
improve myself."

"Well?"

"Then he said that he should submit to my caprices no longer, and that I
should go back in October, as he had decided."

"Well?"

"Well, I said no more, and he went away."

Having received all this intelligence, I went up stairs. I found Mrs
Bradshaw crying bitterly, and she threw herself into my arms.

"Oh, Mademoiselle Chatenoeuf!--the disgrace!--the ruin!--I shall never
get over it," exclaimed she.

"I see no disgrace or ruin, Mrs Bradshaw. Adele has told me that a
gentleman had proposed marriage to her, and asked my advice."

"Indeed!" exclaimed Mrs Bradshaw.

"Yes."

"Well, that alters the case; but still, why did she leave in this
strange way?"

"I presume the gentleman did not think it right that she should marry
out of a young ladies' establishment, madam."

"Very true: I did not think of that."

"After all, what is it? Your French teacher is married--surely that
will not injure your establishment?"

"No, certainly--why should it?--but the news came upon me so abruptly,
that it quite upset me. I will lie down a little, and my head will soon
be better."

Time went on; so did the school. Miss Adele, that was, sent no
wedding-cake, much to the astonishment of the young ladies; and it was
not till nearly three weeks afterwards that I had a lett