its round, polished forehead, its mocking eyes, its sunny, dancing
curls, its piquant little nose, or petulant little lips--but
contemplating, as through a magic glass, far down the vista of her
childhood--childhood scarcely past, yet in its strong contrast to the
present, seeming so distant, dim, and unreal, that her reminiscence of
its days resembled more a vague dream of a pre-existence, than a
rational recollection of a part of her actual life on earth. Poor Jacko
was wondering "If I be I?"

Grim sat in a leathern chair, at the farthest extremity of the room,
occupied with holding a book, but reading Jacquelina. Suddenly he broke
into her brown study by exclaiming:

"I should like to know what you are doing, and how long you intend to
remain standing before that glass."

"Oh, indeed! should you?" mocked Jacko, startled out of her reverie, yet
instantly remembering to be provoking.

"What were you doing, and--"

"Looking at myself in the glass, to be sure."

"Don't cut off my question, if you please. I was going on to inquire of
what you were thinking so profoundly. And madam, or miss--"

"Madam, if you please! the dear knows, I paid heavy enough for my new
dignity, and don't intend to abate one degree of it. So if you call me
miss again, I'll get some one who loves me to call you 'out!' Besides,
I'd have you to know, I'm very proud of it. Ain't you, too? Say, Grim!
ain't you a proud and happy man to be married?" asked Jacko, tauntingly.

"You jibe! You do so with a purpose. But it shall not avail you. I
demand to know the subject of your thoughts as you stood before that
mirror."

Now, none but a half madman like Grim would have gravely made such a
demand, or exposed himself to such a rebuff as it deserved. Jacko looked
at him quizzically.

"Hem!" she answered, demurely. "I'm sure I'm so awestricken, your
worship, that I can scarcely find the use of my tongue to obey your
reverence. I hope your excellency won't be offended with me. But I was
wondering in general, whether the Lord really did make all the people
upon earth, and in particular, whether He made you, and if so, for what
inscrutable reason He did it."

"You are an impertinent minion. But, by the saints, I will have an
answer to my question, and know what you were thinking of while gazing
in that mirror."

"Sorry the first explanation didn't please your eminence. But now,
'honor bright!' I'll tell you truly what I was thinking of. I was
thin