et
turned out on a gold plate by a fashionable dentist.

"The handsome gentleman is very kind to amuse himself at the expense of a
little country bumpkin, but he would do well to ascertain if his flattery
would go down before administering it next time," I said sarcastically,
and I heard him calling to me as I abruptly went off to shut myself in my
room.

"How dare anyone ridicule me by paying idle brainless compliments! I knew
I was ugly, and did not want any one to perjure his soul pretending they
thought differently. What right had I to be small? Why wasn't I possessed
of a big aquiline nose and a tall commanding figure?" Thus I sat in
burning discontent and ill-humour until soothed by the scent of roses and
the gleam of soft spring sunshine which streamed in through my open
window. Some of the flower-beds in the garden were completely carpeted
with pansy blossoms, all colours, and violets-blue and white, single and
double. The scent of mignonette, jonquils, and narcissi filled the air. I
revelled in rich perfumes, and these tempted me forth. My ruffled
feelings gave way before the delights of the old garden. I collected a
number of vases, and, filling them with water, set them on a table in the
veranda near one of the drawing-room windows. I gathered lapfuls of the
lovely blossoms, and commenced arranging them in the vases.

Part of the old Caddagat house was built of slabs, and one of the wooden
walls ran along the veranda side of the drawing-room, so the songs aunt
Helen and Everard Grey were trying to the piano came as a sweet
accompaniment to my congenial task.

Presently they left off singing and commenced talking. Under the same
circumstances a heroine of a story would have slipped away; or, if that
were impossible without discovery, she would have put her fingers in her
ears, and would have been in a terrible state of agitation lest she
should hear something not intended for her. I did not come there with a
view to eavesdropping. It is a degradation to which I never stoop. I
thought they were aware of my presence on the veranda; but it appears
they were not, as they began to discuss me (wonderfully interesting
subject to myself), and I stayed there, without one word of disapproval
from my conscience, to listen to their conversation.

"My word, didn't gran make a to-do this morning when I proposed
to train Sybylla for the stage! Do you know that girl is simply
reeking with talent; I must have her trained.