nal aunt. Her
cheeks were hollow, her delicate lips were pale; her shabby dress lay
flat over her bosom. Observant people, meeting her when she was out
walking with the girls, were struck by her darkly gentle eyes, and by
the patient sadness of her expression. "What a pity!" they said to each
other. "She would be a pretty girl, if she didn't look so wretched and
so thin."

At a loss to understand the audacity of her teacher in rising before the
class was dismissed, Miss Wigger began by asserting her authority. She
did in two words: "Sit down!"

"I wish to explain, ma'am."

"Sit down."

"I beg, Miss Wigger, that you will allow me to explain."

"Sydney Westerfield, you are setting the worst possible example to your
class. I shall see this man myself. _Will_ you sit down?"

Pale already, Sydney turned paler still. She obeyed the word of
command--to the delight of the girls of her class. It was then within
ten minutes of the half hour after twelve--when the pupils were
dismissed to the playground while the cloth was laid for dinner. What
use would the teacher make of that half hour of freedom?

In the meanwhile Miss Wigger had entered her drawing-room. With the
slightest possible inclination of her head, she eyed the stranger
through her green spectacles. Even under that disadvantage his
appearance spoke for itself. The servant's estimate of him was beyond
dispute. Mr. Herbert Linley's good breeding was even capable of
suppressing all outward expression of the dismay that he felt, on
finding himself face to face with the formidable person who had received
him.

"What is your business, if you please?" Miss Wigger began.

Men, animals, and buildings wear out with years, and submit to their
hard lot. Time only meets with flat contradiction when he ventures
to tell a woman that she is growing old. Herbert Linley had rashly
anticipated that the "young lady," whom it was the object of his visit
to see, would prove to be young in the literal sense of the word. When
he and Miss Wigger stood face to face, if the door had been set open for
him, he would have left the house with the greatest pleasure.

"I have taken the liberty of calling," he said, "in answer to an
advertisement. May I ask"--he paused, and took out a newspaper from the
pocket of his overcoat--"If I have the honor of speaking to the lady who
is mentioned here?"

He opened the newspaper, and pointed to the advertisement.

Miss Wigger's eyes rested--not