e. The Leightons were kind, but extremely proud, and I feared that
the pleasure Willie had lately evinced in my society had displeased
them, although his attentions had been nothing more than a person
socially inclined might be expected to show to one dwelling beneath the
same roof. Again did the remark made by Mrs. Kingsley occur to my mind,
and I firmly decided that, if Mrs. Leighton was displeased, she should
have no further cause for displeasure, for I too was possessed of a
proud spirit. The dawn of the new day glimmered in the east 'ere sleep
closed my eyes, and then my slumbers were disturbed by unpleasant
dreams. One dream, in particular, I still remember. I seemed, in my
dream, to be a homeless wanderer I know not whither. I had left the
limits of the city and was walking in the open country, on a road that
seemed strange and unfamiliar to me. At length such a feeling of
loneliness and misery overpowered me that I felt unable to proceed
further. Seating myself by the roadside, I burst into tears. Raising my
eyes, I observed a female figure approaching me, which I soon recognized
as my mother. She drew near, and, laying her hands upon my head, as if
in blessing, said,--

"Fear not, my beloved daughter, only continue in the path of duty and
all will yet be well."

With a cry of joy, I sprang forward to embrace her, and awoke to find
the sun shining dimly through the partially closed blinds of my window.
I felt fatigued and nervous, after passing such a restless night. I was
startled by the pale and haggard countenance which my mirror reflected
that morning. I had scarcely finished my toilet when the breakfast bell
rang, and I hastened down stairs, where the family were already
assembled around the breakfast table.

Whatever of displeasure Mrs. Leighton might have felt the previous
evening seemed to have vanished with the light of morning. Perhaps,
thought I, her displeasure existed only in my own imagination, after
all. Noticing my pale countenance, she enquired if I was ill? I replied
that I had a slight headache, owing to my not having slept well. She
kindly offered to excuse me from attending to my pupils that morning,
but I told her that I felt quite able to attend to my usual duties. In
the course of the day I mentioned to her the case of the poor woman who
had called the day previous. She replied that, after seeing her and
making some enquiries regarding her capability, she would speak to a
friend of her