an, a particular friend of mine, is coming to the city, and that
she has requested him to take charge of me back to Boston. She does not
mention his name, and I have not the most remote idea who he is. She
says she is very happy that her wild girl should be escorted by a person
of so much dignity and worth. Dignity! I expect he is one of the
ex-presidents or wise statesmen, whom Mrs. Linwood has recommended to my
patronage. I have a great admiration for great men, large, tall men, men
whose heads you can distinguish in a crowd and see in a distant
procession. They look as if they could protect one in the day of
trouble."

"Do _you_ ever think of such a day, Margaret?"

"Sometimes I do. I think more than you give me credit for. I can think
more in one minute than you slow folks can in a week. Who can this be? I
remember a description I admire very much. It is in some old poem of
Scott's, I believe,--

'Bold, firm, and high, his stature tall,'

did something, looked like something, I have forgotten what. I know it
was something grand, however."

"You must be thinking of Mr. Regulus," said I, laughing, as memory
brought before me some of his inimitable _quackeries_. "He is the
tallest gentleman I have ever seen, and though not very graceful, has a
very imposing figure, especially in a crowd."

"I think Mr. Regulus one of the finest looking men I ever saw," cried
Madge. "He has a head very much like Webster's, and his eyebrows are
exactly like his. If he were in a conspicuous station, every one would
be raving about his mountainous head and cavernous eyes and majestic
figure. He is worth a dozen of _some_ people, who shall be nameless. I
have no doubt he will be president of the United States, one of these
days."

"I never heard you make so sensible a remark, Margaret. I thought you
were amusing yourself with my respected teacher. I am glad you
appreciate his uncommon merits."

Madge laughed very loud, but she actually blushed. The first symptom of
womanhood I had ever seen her exhibit! It was a strange phenomenon, and
I marvelled what it could mean.

To my unutterable astonishment and delight, a few evenings after, my
quondam preceptor was ushered into the parlor; and strangely looked his
tall, large figure in the midst of the oriental lightness and splendor
through which it moved. After greeting me with the most heart-felt
feeling, and Madge with a half shy, half dignified manner, he gazed
around him with