n the conduct of the young Frenchwoman.

Mrs. Marston, although she sometimes rebuked these artful affronts by a
grave look, a cold tone, or a distant manner, yet had too much dignity to
engage in a petty warfare of annoyance, and had, in reality, no
substantial and well-defined ground of complaint against her, such as
would have warranted her either in taking the young lady herself to task,
or in bringing her conduct under the censure of Marston.

One evening, it happened that Mrs. Marston and Mademoiselle de Barras had
been left alone together. After the supper-party had dispersed, they had
been for a long time silent. Mrs. Marston resolved to improve the
Tate-a-Tate, for the purpose of eliciting from mademoiselle an
explanation of her strange behavior.

"Mademoiselle," said she, "I have lately observed a very marked change in
your conduct to me."

"Indeed!" said the Frenchwoman.

"Yes, mademoiselle; you must be yourself perfectly aware of that change;
it is a studied and intentional one," continued Mrs. Marston, in a gentle
but dignified tone. "Although I have felt some doubt as to whether it
were advisable, so long as you observe toward me the forms of external
respect, and punctually discharge the duties you have undertaken, to open
any discussion whatever upon the subject; yet I have thought it better
to give you a fair opportunity of explaining frankly, should you desire
to do so, the feelings and impressions under which you are acting."

"Ah, you are very obliging, madame," said she, coolly.

"It is quite clear, mademoiselle, that you have either misunderstood me,
or that you are dissatisfied with your situation among us: your conduct
cannot otherwise be accounted for," said Mrs. Marston, gravely.

"My conduct--_ma foi!_ what conduct?" retorted the handsome Frenchwoman,
confidently, and with a disdainful glance.

"If you question the fact, mademoiselle," said the elder lady, "it is
enough. Your ungracious manner and ungentle looks, I presume, arise from
what appears to you a sufficient and well-defined cause, of which,
however, I know nothing."

"I really was not aware," said Mademoiselle de Barras, with a
supercilious smile, "that my looks and my manner were subjected to so
strict a criticism, or that it was my duty to regulate both according to
so nice and difficult a standard."

"Well, mademoiselle," continued Mrs. Marston, "it is plain that whatever
may be the cause of your dissatisfaction, you a