Mrs Root, that
this poor child is rather delicate in appearance; he is much grown
certainly; much more than I expected, or wished--but he seems both shy
and dejected. I was in hopes that you had been yourselves blessed with
a family. A mother can trust to a mother. Though you are not parents,
you have known a parent's love. I have no doubt that you are fond of
children--(`Very,' both in a breath)--from the profession you have
chosen. I am the godmother of this boy. Alas! I am afraid no nearer
relation will ever appear to claim him. He has no mother, Mrs Root,
without you will be to him as one; and I conjure you, sir, to let the
fatherless find in the preceptor, a father. Let him only meet for a
year or two with kindness, and I will cheerfully trust to Providence for
the rest. Though I detest the quackery of getting up a scene, I wish to
be as impressive as I can, as I am sorry to say, more than a year will
unavoidably pass before I can see this poor youth again. Let me, at
that time, I conjure you, see him in health and cheerfulness. Will you
permit me now to say farewell? as I wish to say a few words of adieu to
my godson, and should I cry over him for his mother's sake, you know
that a lady does not like to be seen with red eyes."

The delicacy of this sickly attempt at pleasantry was quite lost upon
the scholastic pair. They understood her literally; and Mrs Root
began, "My eye-water--" However, leave was taken, and I was left with
the lady. She took me on her lap, and a hearty hug we had together.
She then rang for Molly. She spoke to the girl kindly, asked no
questions of her that might lead her to betray her employers, but,
giving her half a guinea not to lose sight of me in the multitude, and,
to prove her gratitude, never to suffer me again to enter the kitchen,
she promised to double the gratuity when she again saw me, if she
attended to her request. The girl, evidently affected as much by her
manner as her gift, curtseyed and withdrew. While she remained at the
school she complied with my godmother's request most punctually.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

CONTAINETH A LECTURE ON LOVE FROM A PERSONIFICATION OF LOVELINESS--AND
SHOWETH THAT SUPERSTITION HAS ITS SWEETS AS WELL AS ITS HORRORS--AND
ALSO HOW TO AVOID THE INFECTION OF THE EVIL EYE.

When we were alone, she examined me carefully, to ascertain if I were
perfectly clean. It would have, perhaps, been for me a happy
circumstance, if Mr Root ha