ren. The Queen-bee composed
herself quickly; and with mildly silencing looks seemed to observe that
she had somewhat forgotten her own dignity, and seated herself quietly
and becomingly among the "grown people," as one of them, whilst the
other children gathered themselves in a little group in one corner of
the room, whispering and wondering; and whoever had looked at them might
have seen many a time Petrea's nose peering forth from the little group.

Judge Frank sent to announce to his wife the arrival of the expected
guest, who would be introduced to her as soon as he had completed his
toilet. Presently afterwards another messenger came, desiring
curling-irons for the Candidate.

"It is a blessed long toilet!" thought Elise, many a time during a full
hour which elapsed in waiting; and it must be confessed that her nose
more than once during the hour took the same direction as Petrea's.

At last the steps of two gentlemen were heard on the hall floor, and
there advanced through the parlour door a well-shod foot and a handsome
leg, belonging to a well-formed though somewhat compressed figure, which
carried gracefully a twenty-year-old head, of a jovial, comely
appearance, with the hair dressed after the newest mode. It was the
Candidate. He cast a glance first at his foot, and then at the lady of
the house, whom he approached with the most unconstrained
self-possession, exhibiting the while a row of dazzlingly white teeth.
Odour of _eau de Portugal_ diffused itself though the room.

The Judge, who followed, and whose bearing and simple demeanour
contrasted with those of the new guest, introduced the Candidate Jacobi.
Various unimportant polite speeches were made by everybody, and then
they all took their seats. The children then came forward, and made
their bows and curtseys. Henrik eyed his future preceptor with a joyous,
confiding glance; the Queen-bee curtseyed very becomingly, and then made
several steps backward as the young man seemed inclined to take the
great liberty of kissing her; whilst Petrea turned up her nose with an
inquisitive saucy air. The Candidate took the kindest notice of them
all; shook all of them by the hand; inquired all their names; looked at
himself in the glass, and arranged his curls.

"Whom have we here?" thought Elise, with secret anxiety. "He is a fop--a
perfect fop! How in all the world could Bishop B. select him as teacher
for my poor little children? He will think much more of loo