acious memory. No matter how long the
reading of a book had been suspended, she could always repeat every word
of the last sentence. She was easily affected by any sad events that
were narrated, and would weep over them. Her parents, sisters, and
brothers had taken such pains to include her in all that was going
forward, and to make her and keep her one of themselves, that she would
say, "Oh yes, I see," and "How beautiful," when you talked to her.

She was very particular about her dress, quite as much so as any of her
sisters, and specially scrupulous in the matter of gloves. Her hands
were small, white, delicately beautiful, and very feeble. She liked to
have such accurately fitting gloves that the time she took to put them
on was a joke in the family.

Three of the sisters were at Culham when the Frauelein arrived, and many
bright letters passed between Bessie at Chichester and her own "special"
sister Mary at Culham. Bessie tells Mary how her brother Robert had
returned from the Continent, having learnt "a great many German words
and some French;" how he had grown fonder of music, and could allow
"that it is an art capable of giving a great deal of pleasure." She
gives all the little gossip of home, describes the new German governess
"a pretty figure, black hair, rather a large mouth, an animated
countenance, very lady-like and lively.... They (the younger ones) like
Miss D. very much, and so we do, all of us, I think." Bessie has read
_Don Carlos_, the _Bride of Messina_, and a play by Halm. Her reading
time is from four to five; but there are reading and needlework from
three to four, which all the elders try to join, and from which, we may
be sure, Bessie would not be absent. Then there is a dinner party at the
Palace: "She (the Frauelein) dined, and so did I."

"As to the dinner part I managed very well. I had it all by heart. What
I was to have was all settled in the morning, so that I had very little
else to do but to talk, and that I did so much that I was really almost
ashamed. Mr. ---- took me down, and pleased mamma uncommonly by praising
me to her in the evening. I cannot think why."

A little later Bessie is at Culham, and writes to Mary at Chichester.

Now don't make any more excuses about not writing. For my part I
have forgiven you, at least since this delicious weather, for we
have been out almost all day lately. Yesterday we walked to
Abingdon, did some shopping, and came