e, "or has the kindness of friends rendered it
superfluous? I do not ask from curiosity out a deep interest in your
future welfare."

This was a startling question. I had not thought of the subject since I
had entered my new home. Why should I think of the drudgery of life,
pillowed on the downy couch of luxury and ease? I was forgetting that I
was but the recipient of another's bounty,--a guest, but not a child of
the household.

Low as was his voice, I knew Mrs. Linwood heard and understood him, for
her eyes rested on me with a peculiar expression of anxiety and
interest. She did not speak, and I knew not what to utter. A burning
glow rose to my cheeks, and my heart fluttered with painful
apprehension. It was all a dream, then. That home of affluence was not
mine,--it was only the asylum of my first days of orphanage. The
maternal tenderness of Mrs. Linwood was nothing more than compassion and
Christian charity, and the sisterly affection of the lovely Edith but
the overflowing of the milk of human kindness. These were my first,
flashing thoughts; then the inherent pride of my nature rose to sustain
me. I would never be a willing burden to any one. I would toil day and
night, sooner than eat the bread of dependence. It would have been far
better to have left me in the humble cottage where they found me, to
commence my life of drudgery at once, than to have given me a taste of
luxury and affluence, to heighten, by force of contrast, privation and
labor.

"I will commence teaching immediately," I answered, trying in vain to
speak with firmness, "if you think I am not too young, and a situation
can be obtained;" "that is," I added, I fear a little proudly, "if Mrs.
Linwood approve."

"It must not be thought of _at present_," she answered, speaking to Mr.
Regulus. "Gabriella is too young yet to assume the burden of authority.
Her physical powers are still undeveloped. Besides, we shall pass the
winter in the metropolis. Next summer we will talk about it."

"They speak of adding a primary department to the academy," said my
former master, "which will be under female superintendence. If this _is_
done, and she would accept the situation, I think I have influence
enough to secure it for her."

"We will see to that hereafter," said Mrs. Linwood; "but of one thing I
am assured, if Gabriella ever wishes to assume duties so honorable and
so feminine, she would think it a privilege to be under your especial
guardianship,