y five-year-old horse, and took the lead. The
Tutor followed with a quiet, steady-going nag; if he had driven the
five-year-old, I would not have answered for the necks of the pair in
the chaise, for he was too much taken up with the subject they were
talking of, to be very careful about his driving. The Mistress and her
escort brought up the rear,--I holding the reins, the Professor at my
side, and Number Seven sitting with the Mistress.

We arrived at the institution a little later than we had expected to,
and the students were flocking into the hall, where the Commencement
exercises were to take place, and the medal-scholars were to receive the
tokens of their excellence in the various departments. From our seats we
could see the greater part of the assembly,--not quite all, however of
the pupils. A pleasing sight it was to look upon, this array of young
ladies dressed in white, with their class badges, and with the ribbon
of the shade of blue affected by the scholars of the institution. If
Solomon in all his glory was not to be compared to a lily, a whole
bed of lilies could not be compared to this garden-bed of youthful
womanhood.

The performances were very much the same as most of us have seen at
the academies and collegiate schools. Some of the graduating class
read their "compositions," one of which was a poem,--an echo of
the prevailing American echoes, of course, but prettily worded and
intelligently read. Then there was a song sung by a choir of the pupils,
led by their instructor, who was assisted by the Musician whom we
count among The Teacups.--There was something in one of the voices that
reminded me of one I had heard before. Where could it have been? I am
sure I cannot remember. There are some good voices in our village choir,
but none so pure and bird-like as this. A sudden thought came into
my head, but I kept it to myself. I heard a tremulous catching of the
breath, something like a sob, close by me. It was the Mistress,--she was
crying. What was she crying for? It was impressive, certainly, to listen
to these young voices, many of them blending for the last time,--for
the scholars were soon to be scattered all over the country, and some of
them beyond its boundaries,--but why the Mistress was so carried away,
I did not know. She must be more impressible than most of us; yet I
thought Number Five also looked as if she were having a struggle with
herself to keep down some rebellious signs of emotion