days' journey home (broken into by a visit to our
old aunts) seemed to me very nearly endless. My impatience to see and
embrace mamma kept me from sleeping. I had not seen her for almost two
months! My sister was the only person in the world who, at that time,
could have made such a long separation from my mamma endurable to me.

We reached the continent safely, and after a three-hours ride in the
carriage that we found awaiting us at the boat-landing, we passed
through the ramparts of our town. Ah! at last I saw my mother; I once
more saw her dear face and sweet smile.--And now at this distant time I
find that one of my clearest and most persistent memories is her beloved
and still youthful face and her beautiful dark hair.

When we arrived at the house I ran to visit my little lake and its
grottoes, and I hurried to the arbor that grew against the old wall. But
my eyes had become so accustomed to the immensity of the sandy beach
and the ocean that all of these things appeared shrunken, diminished,
walled-in and mean. The leaves were turning yellow, and although it was
still warm there was a promise of early autumn in the air. With fear and
dread I thought of the dull and cold days which would soon be upon us;
and when, with a heavy heart, I began to unpack my boxes of sea-weed
and shells, I was overcome with grief because I was not still upon the
Island. I felt disquieted too about Veronica who would have to be there
without me during the winter, and suddenly my eyes overflowed with tears
at the thought that I might never again hold her dear little sun-burned
hands in mine.

CHAPTER XXI.

The time now arrived for me to begin regular lessons and to write
exercises in copy-books, which I invariably smeared with ink--ah! what
gloom and dreariness suddenly came into my life.

I remember that I performed my tasks spiritlessly and sulkily, and that
my lessons bored me inexpressibly. And since I wish to be very sincere,
it is necessary for me to add that my teachers also were well-nigh
intolerable to me.

Alas! well do I remember the one who first taught me Latin (rosa, the
rose; cornu, the horn; tonitru, the thunder). This tutor was very old
and bent, and as sad of face as a rainy November day. He is dead now,
the poor old fellow--sweet peace to his soul! He was exactly like that
"Mr. Ratin" hit off in caricature so neatly by Topffer; he had all the
marks, even to the wart with the three hairs, and fine wrin