when another opportunity
offered itself, and that I wanted to avoid.

The next morning I went to Mrs. Forsyth's boudoir, and finding her alone
told her of what had passed the night before. She was much surprised,
and not altogether pleased.

'I ought to have looked after you better,' she said, 'but Captain Gates
has seemed more like a brother to my girls. He was brought up with the
boys, and has looked upon this as his second home. I noticed, of course,
how attentive he was to you; but it is his way with most fresh
acquaintances, and I never dreamed of it leading to anything serious.
Why, he has no prospects beyond his pay and a trifling allowance from his
father! What could he be dreaming of?'

I listened, but said nothing, only wondered at the different views people
took of things. Mrs. Forsyth's reason for my refusal of him was so very
far apart from mine.

The ball was a theme of conversation for many days after, and I was
thankful that my absence from it had been so little noticed. But, as
time went on, my life seemed to get very difficult. I think I had
naturally a bright disposition, and so in the first freshness of my
surroundings did not mind the little disagreeables attending my
'strait-laced views,' as Nelly called them. When Captain Gates had left
us, our gaiety did not cease; I seemed to be continually in opposition to
my guardian, and after bearing a good deal of grave displeasure from him,
and light scorn from the rest, I was finally left in peace to go my way
alone, with the sense of being in perpetual disgrace, and being shunned
and avoided by most of the girls' friends. This I could not help feeling
acutely--I longed to be friends with every one; and many a tear was shed
in the privacy of my own room, as I would see a merry party leave the
house bound on some excursion--perhaps a simple water picnic--to which I
had not been asked, on account of my 'peculiar ideas.' Then it was I
sought to 'dwell deep,' and found increasing comfort in studying my
little Bible. I was not dull, for I visited much in the village. My
Sunday class increased, and my little scholars were a perpetual source of
enjoyment to me. I went for walks with Violet and her governess, and
when feeling lonely would often take my violin up to my room and enjoy an
hour or two there in quiet. Sometimes Hugh would ask me to come in and
play to him, and as the evenings drew in I often went to him for an hour
before dinner. He