oached her
acquired, in a degree, a nobler bearing, and pitched his conversation
to a musical and well-tuned key. She had sterling good sense, without
any claim to originality or genius either in her own eyes or those of
others; her mind was not intuitional but logical, and what she
comprehended and discovered by investigation appeared to her to be
necessarily true; she made as little show of knowledge as of dress, for
it is a matter of course that one should be neatly dressed.

Chasteness, in the highest and purest signification of the word, was
the impression which the Mother made, both in regard to her external
appearance and her inner being; she was pure in thought, and pure in
feeling; she had been for thirteen years a lady of the court, and knew
the world; but she retained something of an ideal atmosphere; she knew
vice and believed in virtue; she was quick and cautious, ready to
accept the gage of battle and nobly yielding, at the same time.

If she were externally and superficially compared with Bella, the older
lady would be at a disadvantage; but on a nearer consideration, she had
something satisfying in her presence and conversation, while Bella was
only exciting.

Bella not only desired to excite attention to her personal appearance
and her sentiments, but she was also fond of proposing subjects for
discussion, and propounding the most difficult questions; she was
always putting something forth and making a stir. She gave very cursory
and off-hand replies to what was said to her, and could set out in good
style what she heard, so as to be extremely taking at the first
acquaintance, but a longer familiarity with her showed that it was
merely fluent talk.

The Professorin, on the other hand, made no demands, was grateful for
all that was offered, and was ready to lend it serious thought.

Externally, the ladies could hardly be compared, for the personal
appearance of the Professorin was not what would be called
distinguished; she was somewhat plump in figure, of a pale blond
complexion, and that fresh purity of look which one sees portrayed in
the pictures of well-preserved women of Holland. Her strongest
characteristic was a uniform reserve; she could listen quietly to every
communication, and she could withhold her reply, if she had any opinion
to express, until she had patiently heard all that was to be said.

When questions were addressed immediately to her, to which she did not
want to give a direc