h her buff cotton, with a stamp; 'and you twigged every word o't. An'
why am I so? It's a shame--a shame! Oh, ho, ho! it's a shame!'

'But, my dear Milly, we were talking of _drawing_, and you have not learned
yet, but you shall--I'll teach you; and then you'll understand all about
it.'

'An' every one laughs at me--even you; though you try, Maud, you can scarce
keep from laughing sometimes. I don't blame you, for I know I'm queer; but
I can't help it; and it's a shame.'

'Well, my dear Milly, listen to me: if you allow me, I assure you, I'll
teach you all the music and drawing I know. You have lived very much
alone; and, as you say, ladies have a way of speaking of their own that is
different from the talk of other people.'

'Yes, that they have, an' gentlemen too--like the Governor, and that
Carysbroke; and a precious lingo it is--dang it--why, the devil himself
could not understand it; an' I'm like a fool among you. I could 'most drown
myself. It's a shame! It is--you know it is.--It's a shame!'

'But I'll teach you that lingo too, if you wish it, Milly; and you shall
know everything that I know; and I'll manage to have your dresses better
made.'

By this time she was looking very ruefully, but attentively, in my face,
her round eyes and nose swelled, and her cheeks all wet.

'I think if they were a little longer--yours is longer, you know;' and the
sentence was interrupted by a sob.

'Now, Milly, you must not be crying; if you choose you may be just as the
same as any other lady--and you shall; and you will be very much admired, I
can tell you, if only you will take the trouble to quite unlearn all your
odd words and ways, and dress yourself like other people; and I will take
care of that if you let me; and I think you are very clever, Milly; and I
know you are very pretty.'

Poor Milly's blubbered face expanded into a smile in spite of herself; but
she shook her head, looking down.

'Noa, noa, Maud, I fear 'twon't be.' And indeed it seemed I had proposed to
myself a labour of Hercules.

But Milly was really a clever creature, could see quickly, and when her
ungainly dialect was mastered, describe very pleasantly; and if only she
would endure the restraint and possessed the industry requisite, I did not
despair, and was resolved at least to do my part.

Poor Milly! she was really very grateful, and entered into the project of
her education with great zeal, and with a strange mixture of humility and
ins