er the school was dismissed, and I was preparing as usual to
return home.

"Will you give me a few moments' conversation, Miss Gabriella?" said he,
clearing his throat with one of those hems which once sounded so awful.
He looked awkward and disconcerted, while my face flushed with
trepidation. Had I been guilty of any omitted duty or committed offence?
Had I suffered an error on the blackboard to pass unnoticed, or allowed
a mistake in grammar to be unconnected? What _had_ I done?

I stood nervously pulling the fingers of my gloves, waiting for him to
commence the conversation he had sought. Another hem!--then he moved the
inkstand about a foot further from him, for he was standing close to his
desk, as if to gather round him every imposing circumstance, then he
took up the ruler and measured it with his eye, run his finger along the
edge, as if it were of razor sharpness.

"Is he going to punish me?" thought I. "It looks ominous."

I would not assist him by one word; but maintaining a provoking silence,
took up a pair of compasses and made a circle on the green cloth that
covered the desk.

"Miss Gabriella," at length he said, "you must forgive me for taking the
liberty of an old friend. Nothing but the most disinterested regard for
your--your reputation--could induce me to mention a subject--so--so
very--very peculiar."

"Good Heavens!" I exclaimed, "my reputation, Mr. Regulus?"

I felt the blood bubbling like boiling water, up into my cheek.

"I do not wish to alarm or distress you," he continued, becoming more
self-possessed, as my agitation increased. "You know a young girl, left
without her natural guardians, especially if she is so unfortunate as to
be endowed with those charms which too often attract the shafts of envy
and stir up the venom of malice,"--

"Mr. Regulus!" I interrupted, burning with impatience and indignation,
"tell me what you mean. Has any one dared to slander me,--and for what?"

"No one would dare to breathe aught of evil against you in my presence,"
said he, with great dignity; "but the covert whisper may pass from lip
to lip, and the meaning glance flash from eye to eye, when your friend
and protector is not near to shield you from aspersion, and vindicate
your fame."

"Stop," I exclaimed; "you terrify--you destroy me!"

The room spun round like a top. Every thing looked misty and black. I
caught hold of Mr. Regulus's arm to keep me from falling. Foes in
ambush, glittering tom