red if I should like to go to the
next meeting at the Horticultural Gardens, at the same time offering me
two tickets. As I was anxious to see the gardens, I accepted them. He
told me that his father would call for us, and his mother and sisters
were to be there, and then he took leave.

"Who is Mr Selwyn?" inquired Caroline.

I told her.

"Well," said she, "I have seen two nice young men this morning; I don't
know which I like best, but I think Mr Selwyn is the more manly of the
two."

"I should think so, too, Caroline," replied I; "Mr Selwyn is
twenty-four years old, I believe, and Mr Dempster is younger, I think,
than you are."

"I did not think he was so young; but, Valerie, are we not to go to the
National Gallery?"

"Yes, when Monsieur Gironac comes home to escort us; we may as well put
on our bonnets, for he will be here in a few minutes."

"Oh, Valerie, how fortunate it was that I came to Mrs Bradshaw's," said
Caroline, "and that I met you! I should have been moped, that is
certain, if I had not, but now I'm so happy--that's Monsieur Gironac's
knock, I'm sure."

But Caroline was wrong, for it was Mademoiselle Chabot, of whom I have
before spoken, who made her appearance. Mademoiselle Chabot was an
acquaintance of Madame Gironac, and it was through my having become
intimate with her, that I obtained the teaching of Mrs Bradshaw's.
Adele Chabot was a very pretty person, thoroughly French, and dressed
with great taste. She was the resident French teacher in Mrs
Bradshaw's establishment; and, although twenty-five years old, did not
look more than eighteen; she was very amusing and rather wild, although
she looked very demure. I never thought that there was anything wrong
in Adele, but, at the same time, I did not consider that Caroline would
derive any good from her company, as Caroline required to be held in
check as it was. But, as is usually the case, the more I attempted to
check any intimacy between them, the more intimate they became. Adele
was of a good family; her father had fallen at Montmartre, when the
allies entered Paris after the Battle of Waterloo: but the property left
was very small to be divided among a large family, and consequently
Adele had first gone out as a governess at Paris, and ultimately
accepted the situation she now held. She spoke English remarkably well,
indeed, better than I ever heard it spoken by a Frenchwoman, and
everybody said so as well as me.

"Well, Adel