nately fond of antiquities
and ancient history. He knew--what we were all ignorant of--that the
library of our own small town possessed works of inestimable value on
these subjects, and I think this was his reason for choosing it as
his place of sojourn on the Continent. At all events he made great
use of the library. You may understand my surprise at seeing a man,
evidently of high rank, who cared neither for hunting nor noisy
pleasures of any kind, and who declared the happiest moments of his
life to be those spent in his study, and yet withal he was a perfect
gentleman and man of the world. The gentlemen said he was ugly;
the ladies were silent on that point, but appeared delighted with
the slightest attention he paid them. I thought he bore a striking
resemblance to our Stadtholder William III., though less pale. He had
a high forehead, strongly marked features, and dark eyes, which made
you think of the piercing regard of the eagle."

"Had he also the beak?" I asked, growing impatient.

"I have told you he was like William III. (of England)," she replied,
looking at me in astonishment; "his nose was curved sharply. But not
to detain you too long, I will at once confess he exercised a powerful
influence over me for good. I soon discovered that my manners were
displeasing to him, and that he evinced towards me a compassionate
sympathy, as if he regretted the sad turn my tastes had taken. One
day I overheard him ask my father why he did not take me out into
society. He gave as a reason my wild and brusque manners, and the
kind of society to be found in a small town like ours. Lord William
was not a man to be easily discouraged. He spoke to me privately
about my previous life, and put all sorts of questions to me about
my education. I told him everything, in my own way, without trying
to hide any of the particulars from him.

"'Do you like reading?' he asked me.

"'Not at all,' I answered. 'I like society, men and action.'

"'But any one who does not read, and read much, becomes idiotic,
and makes but a poor figure in society.'

"'If that's the case, tell me what I ought to read.'

"'I cannot answer your question right away; but, if you are willing,
we will read together and try to make up for lost time.'"

CHAPTER XXIV.

"And so it was settled. He undertook to educate me and to form my
tastes. He soon made me acquainted with the masterpieces of German and
French literature, and discovered to m