ere was a calm, which lasted the
whole winter. I followed up my usual avocations. I had as many pupils
as I could attend to, and saved money fast. The winter passed away, and
in the spring I expected Lionel with my brother Auguste. I looked
forward to seeing my brother with great impatience; not a day that he
was out of my thoughts. I was most anxious to hear of my father, my
brothers, and sisters, and every particular connected with the family;
even my mother was an object of interest, although not of regard, but I
had forgiven all others who had ill-treated me, and I felt that I
forgave and forgot, if she would behave as a mother towards me. I had
received kind letters from Madame d'Albret and Adele; the letters of the
latter were most amusing. Madame Bathurst had called upon me several
times. I was at peace with all the world and with myself. At last, I
received a letter from Lionel, stating that he was coming over in a few
days; that he had great difficulty in persuading my brother to come with
him, as he could not afford the expense out of his own means, and did
not like to lie under such an obligation. At last, he had been
over-ruled, and was coming with him.

"Then I shall see you again, dear Auguste!" thought I; "you who always
loved me, always protected me and took my part, and who so lamented my
supposed death;" and my thoughts turned to the time when he and I were
with my grandmother in the palace, and our early days were passed over
in review. "My poor grandmother, how I loved you! and how you deserved
to be loved!" And then I calculated what I might have been, had I been
left with my grandmother, and had inherited her small property; and, on
reflection, I decided that I was better off now than I probably should
have been, and that all was for the best. I thought of the future, and
whether it was likely I ever should marry, and I decided that I never
would, but that if I ever returned to my family, I would assist my
sisters, and try to make them happy.

"Yes," thought I, "marry I never will--that is _decided_--nothing shall
ever induce me."

My reverie was interrupted by the entrance of a stranger, who,
apologising to me, stated that he had come to seek Monsieur Gironac.

I replied that he was not at home, and probably it would be half an hour
before he returned to dinner.

"With your leave, mademoiselle," said he, gracefully bowing, "I will
wait till he returns. I will not, however, tresp