ace expressed no disappointment and no
disapproval.

'In what way have you carried on your study of history, my dear?' she
finally asked.

'I hardly can tell; in a box of coins, I believe,' Esther answered.

'Ah? I think I will get me a box of coins.'

Which meant, Esther could not tell what. She found herself at last, to
her surprise, put with the highest classes in the English branches and
in Latin.

Her work was immediately delightful. Esther was so buried in it that
she gave little thought or care to anything else, and did not know or
ask what place she took in the esteem of her companions or of her
teachers. As the reader may be more curious, one little occurrence that
happened that week shall serve to illustrate her position; did
illustrate it, in the consciousness of all the school family, only not
of Esther herself.

It was at dinner one day. There was a long table set, which reached
nearly from the front of the house to the back, through two rooms,
leaving just comfortable space for the servants to move about around
it. Dinner was half through. Miss Fairbairn was speaking of something
in the newspaper of that morning which had interested her, and she
thought would interest the girls.

'I will read it to you,' she said. 'Miss Gainsborough, may I ask you to
do me a favour? Go and fetch me the paper, my dear; it lies on my table
in the schoolroom; the paper, and the book that is with it.'

There went a covert smile round the room, which Esther did not see;
indeed, it was too covert to be plain even to the keen eyes of Miss
Fairbairn, and glances were exchanged; and perhaps it was as well for
Esther that she did not know how everybody's attention for the moment
was concentrated on her movements. She went and came in happy ignorance.

Miss Fairbairn received her paper, thanked her, and went on then to
read to the girls an elaborate account of a wonderful wedding which had
lately been celebrated in Washington. The bride's dress was detailed,
her trousseau described, and the subsequent movements of the bridal
party chronicled. All was listened to with eager attention.

'What do you think of it, Miss Dyckman?' the lady asked after she had
finished reading.

'I think she was a happy girl, Miss Fairbairn.'

'Humph! What do you say, Miss Delavan?'

'Uncommonly happy, I should say, ma'am.'

'Is that your opinion, Miss Essing?'

'Certainly, ma'am. There could be but one opinion, I should think.'

'What