n better understand the difference between cant in economy as
well as cant in some other things, and true taste as well as true
morals, than young Shoreham; but there are indulgences that become
persons in no class."

"After all, mother, we are making a trifle a very serious matter. It is
but a pocket-handkerchief."

"Very true, my love; and it cost ONLY one hundred dollars, and so we'll
say no more about it; bien entendu, that you are not to purchase six
dozen at the same price."

{bien entendu = it being understood}

This terminated the dialogue, Julia retiring to her own room, carrying
me with her. I was thrown upon the bed, and soon after my mistress
opened a door, and summoned her two younger sisters, who were studying
on the same floor, to join her. I shall not repeat all the delightful
exclamations, and other signs of approbation, that so naturally escaped
the two pretty little creatures, to whom I may be said to have now been
introduced, when my beauty came under examination. I do not thus speak
of myself out of any weakness, for pocket-handkerchiefs are wholly
without vanity, but simply because I am impelled to utter nothing but
truth. Julia had too much consideration to let her young sisters into
the secret of my price--for this would have been teaching a premature
lesson in extravagance; but, having permitted them to gratify their
curiosity, she exacted of them both promises not to speak of me to
their governess.

"But why not, Julia?" asked the inquisitive little Jane, "Mademoiselle
Hennequin is SO good and SO kind, that she would be glad to hear of
your good fortune."

Julia had an indistinct view of her own motive, but she could not avow
it to any one, not even to herself. Jealousy would be too strong,
perhaps too indelicate a word, but she alone had detected Betts
Shoreham's admiration of the governess; and it was painful to her to
permit one who stood in this relation to her own weakness in favor of
the young man, to be a witness of an act of extravagance to which she
had only half consented in committing it, and of which she already more
than half repented. From the first, therefore, she determined that
Mademoiselle Hennequin should never see me.

CHAPTER XIV.

And now comes an exhibition of my mesmeritic powers, always
"handkerchiefly speaking," that may surprise those who have not
attended to the modern science of invisible fluids. It is by this
means, however, that I am enabled to perc