But of course he saw you were a poor little not-come-out thing, and
never spoke to you. Oh! if Miss Charlecote would ask me to London!'

'And me!' chimed in Maria.

'Well, what would you do?'

'Not act like a goose, and bring home dry abstracts. I'd make Miss
Charlecote take me everywhere, and quite forget all my science, unless I
wanted to amaze some wonderful genius. Oh dear! won't I make Augusta
look foolish some of these days! She really thinks that steel attracts
lightning! Do you think Miss Charlecote's society will appreciate me,
Phoebe?'

'And me?' again asked Maria.

Phoebe laughed heartily, but did not like Bertha's scoffing mirth at
Maria's question. Glad as she was to be at home, her glimpse of the
outer world had so enlarged her perceptions, she could not help remarking
the unchildlike acuteness of the younger girl, and the obtuse
comprehension of the elder; and she feared that she had become
discontented and fault-finding after her visit. Moreover, when Bertha
spoke much English, a certain hesitation occurred in her speech which was
apt to pass unnoticed in her foreign tongues, but which jarred
unpleasantly on her sister's ear, and only increased when noticed.

At nine, when Phoebe rose as usual to wish good night, Miss Fennimore
told her that she need not for the future retire before ten, the hour to
which she had of late become accustomed. It was a great boon, especially
as she was assured that the additional hour should be at her own
disposal.

'You have shown that you can be trusted with your time, my dear. But not
to-night,' as Phoebe was turning to her desk; 'remember how long I have
suffered a famine of conversation. What! were you not sensible of your
own value in that respect?'

'I thought you instructed me; I did not know you conversed with me.'

'There's a difference between one susceptible of instruction, and
anything so flippant and volatile as Bertha,' said Miss Fennimore,
smiling. 'And poor Maria!'

'She is so good and kind! If she could only see a few things, and
people, and learn to talk!'

'Silence and unobtrusiveness are the only useful lessons for her, poor
girl!' then observing Phoebe's bewildered looks, 'My dear, I was forced
to speak to Bertha because she was growing jealous of Maria's exemptions;
but you, who have been constantly shielding and supplying her
deficiencies, you do not tell me that you were not aware of them?'

'I always knew she was not cleve