y ploughed on dutifully,
cramming their youthful minds with the hardest dates and facts to be
found in the history of mankind, the dreariest statistics, the
driest details of geography, and the most recondite rules of
grammar, until the happy hour arrived in which they took their final
departure from Albury Lodge, to forget all they had learnt there in
the briefest possible time.

How my thoughts used to wander away sometimes as I sat at my desk,
distracted by the unmelodious sound of Miss Susan's voice lecturing
some victim in her own division at the next table, while one of the
girls in mine droned drearily at Lingard, or Pinnock's _Goldsmith_, as
the case might be! How the vision of my own bright home haunted me
during those long monotonous afternoons, while the March winds made
the poplars rock in the garden outside the schoolroom, or the April
rain beat against the great bare windows!

CHAPTER II.

MILLY'S VISITOR.

It was not often that I had a half-holiday to myself, for Miss Susan
Bagshot seemed to take a delight in finding me something to do on
these occasions; but whenever I had, I spent it with Milly Darrell,
and on these rare afternoons I was perfectly happy. I had grown to
love her as I did not think it was in me to love any one who was not
of my own flesh and blood; and in so loving her, I only returned the
affection which she felt for me.

I am sure it was the fact of my friendlessness, and of my
subordinate position in the school, which had drawn this girl's
generous heart towards me; and I should have been hard indeed if I
had not felt touched by her regard. She soon grew indescribably dear
to me. She was of my own age, able to sympathize with every thought
and fancy of mine; the frankest, most open-hearted of creatures; a
little proud of her beauty, perhaps, when it was praised by those
she loved, but never proud of her wealth, or insolent to those whose
gifts were less than hers.

I used to write my home-letters in her room on these rare and happy
afternoons, while she painted at an easel near the window. The room
was small, but better furnished than the ordinary rooms in the
house, and it was brightened by all sorts of pretty things,--
handsomely-bound books upon hanging shelves, pictures, Dresden cups
and saucers, toilet-bottles and boxes, which Miss Darrell had
brought from home. Over the mantelpiece there was a large photograph
of her father, and by the bedside there hung a more fla