long story about the king of Prussia. And
every lady expects attention and politeness as a matter of course,
equally as a matter of course did she expect the assiduities and some
manifestation, even stronger than gallantry, and treated it merely as a
matter of course. Really, without an hyperbole, she was a woman to whom
an appearance of devotion might be excusable, and looked upon more as a
tribute to the abstract spirit of beauty and its divine Creator, than as
a sensual testimony to the individual.

Her first appearance even silenced the hitherto dauntless loquacity of
Rip--for half a minute. But he made fearful amends for this involuntary
display of modesty afterwards. _Secundum artem_, he opened all the
batteries of his fascination upon her. He rolled his eyes at her with a
violence approaching to agony; he bowed; he displayed in every possible
and captivating attitude his one living leg--but his surpassing strength
was in the adulation of his serpent tongue--and she bore it all so
stoically; she would smile upon him when he made a good hit, as upon an
actor on the boards--she would, at times, even condescend to improve
some of his compliments upon herself; and when her easy manners had
perchance overset him at the very _debut_ of one of his finest speeches,
she would begin it again for him; taking up the dropped sentence, and
then settle herself into a complacent attitude for listening.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

EVIDENCES OF GOOD TASTE IN FAVOUR OF MASTER RALPH--JEALOUSY USHERS IN
REVENGE, REVENGE RETALIATION, WHICH HE IS COMPELLED TO CHRONICLE ON THE
USHER'S FACE, AND WHAT PUNISHMENT THEREUPON ENSUED.

When Mrs Causand came to Stickenham, she made universal jubilee. The
orderly routine of scholastic life had no longer place. She almost
ruined Riprapton in clean linen, perfumes, and Windsor soap. Cards and
music enlivened every evening; and the games she played were those of
the fashion of the day, and she always played high, and always won. Her
ascendancy over Mrs Cherfeuil was complete. The latter was treated
with much apparent affection, but still with the airs of a patroness. I
do not know that the handsome schoolmistress lent her money, for I do
not think that she stood in need of it; but I feel assured that her
whole property was at her disposal. She stood in awe of her. _She knew
her secret_.

With his usual acuteness, my good old friend discovered this
immediately; and he began to woo h