of giving right ideas of female decorum, you
are yourself to judge. When I fixed Margaret with you, it was not to
education alone that I looked; my views and hopes extended to
principles, temper, and conduct. The mere mechanical parts of education
may at all times be purchased for money; automatons may be made to
perform wonders. But we all know that something more is wanting to give
solidity and consequence to character. If you refuse my daughter, she
will lose her best friend."

"Not another word, Sir, on the subject; I still expect to make something
of this little girl. She is rash, careless, and perhaps a little
mischievous: but I am not without hope; and past grievances we will now
forget. Go," said Mrs. Adair, turning to her pupil, "bring a frock to
me; remember I pardon you now, but I shall never do so again; and take
care that you do not tell any person that you ran away, and were so
foolish.--It is well she is my god-daughter, and my namesake," said Mrs.
Adair, as her pupil crossed the hall: then, addressing Mr. Bruce, she
added, "Depend upon my word, Sir; I will be the friend of your daughter
in remembrance of her mother; this is the strongest claim upon my
attention; far more so than that of a name."

"I bless you again and again for your kindness," said Mr. Bruce with
warmth. "I have now no fears for Margaret; she must remain with you,
until you can say, 'your daughter is now all I can desire.'"

"This is exacting too much; 'all that you can desire,' is beyond my
power to make her; but I will try to make her a comfort to you. I have
good ground to work upon, and I hope you will have reason to think, that
I have not neglected the soil."

As Mr. Bruce was returning to his carriage, his daughter, who was
descending the stairs with a clean frock, flew to him, exclaiming, "do
say you forgive me! I will never vex you again; O, dear papa, say you
will but forgive me."

"Well, child, I do forgive you."

"O, how good and kind you are! I will never forget it. But, dear papa,
won't you say something more?"

"God bless you, child! and may he always bless you."

Mr. Bruce hastened to the carriage, drew up the window, and the boy
drove off. Tears streamed from Miss Bruce's eyes; "O, that papa would
but have given me one kiss, I should have been so happy!"

"If you are good," said Mrs. Adair, "when next he sees you he will give
you two."

CHAPTER XIX.

The time had arrived for Miss Damer to go into a