, as a condition," I
said, somewhat indignantly, and flushing hotly as I spoke. "I really
cannot converse to order. I am a person of moods, and do not feel always
like talking at all," and I rose and prepared to draw down my veil, take
up my parasol, and depart.

"I like you none the worse for a proper exhibition of spirit," he said,
nodding kindly, and settling himself once more to his paper composedly.
"Sit still, miss, and compose yourself by the time Madame La Vigne comes
in, or she _may_ think you high-tempered, and I am sure you are nothing
of the kind--only very properly proud. There, now, that is right! You
seem to be a very sensible, well-conditioned young person indeed, and I
think you will suit. You are the tenth since yesterday morning," smiling
and bowing blandly, "and the only one that could read intelligibly.
Elocution, you see, is my hobby. I forgot to say," looking up from his
paper, after a pause, "the salary is six hundred dollars--not enough,
perhaps, for a lady of your merit--but quite as much as we can afford to
give. This I call a _modicum_."

"It is not very important," I remarked, "what I receive in the shape of
money, so that I am at no expense beyond my clothing, and other personal
matters, and that I find myself well situated. My engagement will, in
no case, extend beyond a year. You have your peculiarities, I see, and
I have mine. The question is, might they not jar occasionally?"

"Oh, never, never! '_noblesse oblige_,' you know," with a wave of the
hand, soft and urbane. "I hope I shall know how to treat a lady and a
teacher, both in one, and a member of my household. Besides that, I
shall have very little to do with you, indeed. Just now it is
different--we are coming to terms; we have not made them yet, however. I
always save my wife this trouble, if possible.--Ah! there she comes, at
last," as a mild, lady-like looking woman emerged from an adjoining
chamber, somewhat elaborately dressed for that early hour, and followed
by a stream of pale, pretty little girls. "Madame La Vigne," he said,
rising ceremoniously, "permit me to introduce to you Miss Miriam Harz,"
reading the name slowly from the card again, which he took from the
wall, "'a candidate for the position of instructress at
Beauseincourt.'--Say, how do you like her looks?"

I had come to the conclusion by this time that Mr. La Vigne was
decidedly as eccentric as his advertisement, and that his vagaries and
personalities were