with close
palings in front. The bedroom windows were always left partly open, to
afford a bird's-eye view of numerous little bedsteads with very white
dimity furniture, and thereby impress the passer-by with a due sense of
the luxuries of the establishment; and there was a front parlour hung
round with highly varnished maps which nobody ever looked at, and filled
with books which no one ever read, appropriated exclusively to the
reception of parents, who, whenever they called, could not fail to be
struck with the very deep appearance of the place.

'Amelia, my dear,' said Miss Maria Crumpton, entering the school-room one
morning, with her false hair in papers: as she occasionally did, in order
to impress the young ladies with a conviction of its reality. 'Amelia,
my dear, here is a most gratifying note I have just received. You
needn't mind reading it aloud.'

Miss Amelia, thus advised, proceeded to read the following note with an
air of great triumph:

'Cornelius Brook Dingwall, Esq., M.P., presents his compliments to
Miss Crumpton, and will feel much obliged by Miss Crumpton's calling
on him, if she conveniently can, to-morrow morning at one o'clock, as
Cornelius Brook Dingwall, Esq., M.P., is anxious to see Miss Crumpton
on the subject of placing Miss Brook Dingwall under her charge.

'Adelphi.

'Monday morning.'

'A Member of Parliament's daughter!' ejaculated Amelia, in an ecstatic
tone.

'A Member of Parliament's daughter!' repeated Miss Maria, with a smile of
delight, which, of course, elicited a concurrent titter of pleasure from
all the young ladies.

'It's exceedingly delightful!' said Miss Amelia; whereupon all the young
ladies murmured their admiration again. Courtiers are but school-boys,
and court-ladies school-girl's.

So important an announcement at once superseded the business of the day.
A holiday was declared, in commemoration of the great event; the Miss
Crumptons retired to their private apartment to talk it over; the smaller
girls discussed the probable manners and customs of the daughter of a
Member of Parliament; and the young ladies verging on eighteen wondered
whether she was engaged, whether she was pretty, whether she wore much
bustle, and many other _whethers_ of equal importance.

The two Miss Crumptons proceeded to the Adelphi at the appointed time
next day, dressed, of course, in their best style, and looking as amiable
as they possibly could