ng
watering-place was in its season numerous flounced and gloved little
misses had been introduced to the shy, quaint child, who felt strange
and dreary among them all. In fact, the little heiress's position, so
unique in every respect, had isolated her from the joys of commonplace
childhood, and she found more companionship in her dumb pets, in the
sumptuous silence of the blossoming gardens, in the voices of the
shore, than among girls of her own age with their chatter about
their teachers or governesses, their dancing-steps and their games.
Nevertheless, she was both ardent and affectionate, and ready to love
all the world; and no sooner had Georgy appeared than she lavished
upon her all the passion of girlish fondness for her own sex which
had hitherto lain dormant within her. Georgy had always been used to
adulation and to lead others by her capricious will and her radiant
smile, and within a day after her coming had established almost a
dangerous supremacy over the child. It was at once fascinating and
disappointing to be under the same roof with Georgy: every morning
when I awoke it seemed a miracle of happiness that I had but to dress
and go out of my room to have a chance of meeting her, of perpetually
recurring smiles and conversation such as I had never enjoyed before
at Belfield. But the reality never bore out the promise of my vague
but delicious reveries. Mr. Raymond at once took an active, almost
virulent, dislike to his young guest, and pointed out her faults to
me with clear and concise words, each one of which pierced me like a
rapier; and the certainty of his condemnation gave me a keen, and at
times almost inspired, vision for her weaknesses.

Nothing could exceed her rapture at being in the beautiful house
which she had so long wished to see, and which she loudly asserted
a thousand times surpassed all her expectations. And she fitted
admirably into her costly surroundings: the sheen of her golden
hair made the dark velvet cushionings and hangings a more beautiful
background than before; she gave expression to the stately, silent
rooms; and what had at first been almost, despite its luxury, a
desert to me, became a fairy land. Little Helen was so burdened with
possessions that it was a pleasure for her to give them away. Still,
I wished that Georgy had not been so willing to accept all that the
lavish generosity of the child prompted her to offer. But Georgy was
no Spartan: she wanted everything th