d, strangely enough, to be the innocent cause of the
trials and troubles which beset me at the outset of my new life.

The day after we had presented our letter of introduction, we met the
doctor on the public walk. He was accompanied by two strangers, both
young men, and both (so far as my ignorant opinion went) persons of some
distinction, judging by their dress and manners. The doctor said a few
kind words to us, and rejoined his two companions. Both the gentlemen
looked at me, and both took off their hats as my aunt and I proceeded on
our walk.

I own I thought occasionally of the well-bred strangers during the rest
of the day, especially of the shortest of the two, who was also the
handsomest of the two to my thinking. If this confession seems rather
a bold one, remember, if you please, that I had never been taught to
conceal my feelings at Saint Domingo, and that the events which followed
our arrival in England had kept me completely secluded from the society
of other young ladies of my age.

The next day, while I was drinking my glass of healing water (extremely
nasty water, by the way) the doctor joined us.

While he was asking me about my health, the two strangers made their
appearance again, and took off their hats again. They both looked
expectantly at the doctor, and the doctor (in performance of a promise
which he had already made, as I privately suspected) formally introduced
them to my aunt and to me. First (I put the handsomest man first)
Captain Arthur Stanwick, of the army, home from India on leave,
and staying at Maplesworth to take the waters; secondly, Mr. Lionel
Varleigh, of Boston, in America, visiting England, after traveling all
over Europe, and stopping at Maplesworth to keep company with his friend
the Captain.

On their introduction, the two gentlemen, observing, no doubt, that I
was a little shy, forbore delicately from pressing their society on us.

Captain Stanwick, with a beautiful smile, and with teeth worthy of the
smile, stroked his whiskers, and asked me if I had found any benefit
from taking the waters. He afterward spoke in great praise of the
charming scenery in the neighborhood of Maplesworth, and then, turning
away, addressed his next words to my aunt. Mr. Varleigh took his place.
Speaking with perfect gravity, and with no whiskers to stroke, he said:

"I have once tried the waters here out of curiosity. I can sympathize,
miss, with the expression which I observed on your