glowed like jewels in a dusky setting, and far overhead the mighty arches were lost in misty space. I lingered there awhile, recalling the old times, and weeping silently and bitterly. If but for one houronly for one hour-I could have stood face to face. with my lost friend again, hearing from his lips the familiar words of counsel, the path of life would have seemed an easier way.

I left the Abbey, and then, guided by the instinct of remembrance, crossed over to the Houses of Parliament, and standing in the old spot, raised my eyes to the statue of Cœur de Lion. There, through my tears, I looked upon the old stone king, majestic, invincible, unmoved by time or change; and even as I gazed, Norman Dayne's voice seemed sounding in my ears: "We must train ourselves if we would rule; and above all, we must pray for heavenly aid to show us the true use of power."

I was heartened and strengthened. By continued patience and self-culture, I too might gain that “one pure kind of kingship" whereby I could raise and guide the minds of those committed to my charge. Ay, that invisible crown was better worth the winning than many a jewelled diadem.

"He being dead, yet speaketh," I thought, as I turned away from the place.

CHAPTER XV.

MY PUPILS.

O I took up my abode in Sycamore House in my new capacity as governess. Bearing in mind Mrs. Arkwright's excellent system of education, I adopted

her plans as far as it was possible to do so. I cannot say that at first I met with much success or encouragement, but I was determined to persevere. Yet there were moments when my heart sank, and I felt half tempted to despair of gaining any influence over my unruly pupils.

It was no easy task to restrain one's temper with these young girls. Haughty, mutinous, insolent, there was a wide difference betwixt them and the poet's ideal of maidenhood. They knew that they had succeeded in getting rid of obnoxious teachers in times gone by, and they were resolved to try their strength with me. I was young, and quiet, and sorrow-worn; and they were in the possession of robust health and unclouded spirits. Moreover, they were rich, and I was poor; the conflict therefore

appeared at first-sight to be an unequal one. Yet they had over-estimated their own powers, and undervalued mine.

My face, indeed, bore marks of recent suffering, and much of the elasticity of youth had gone from me for ever; but I was strengthened, and not enervated by the troubles through which I had passed. The discipline of life had been severe, but it had not been cruel or purposeless, and it had left me graver, stronger, and more steadfast than I was before. I was also more self-reliant, having that needful confidence in my own capacities which one must feel in order to succeed; and despite the momentary heartsinkings which I experienced occasionally, there was a firm resolution on my part, that I would not be overthrown.

But for the first week the tussle was a hard one. To apply for aid to Mrs. Clyve would have been simply an avowal of incompetency; and I was, moreover, fully aware that she was quite incapable of giving me any assistance. The pretty, weak, and good-natured little woman regarded her step-children in the light of intractable animals, which could never be fondled or coaxed into domesticity. If a collection of veritable wild beasts had been located in her house, she could scarcely have manifested a greater terror of them; and it must be owned that the young ladies took a grim satisfaction in the fear they inspired.

Day after day there were unpleasant scenes in the pretty room dedicated to our use. More than once

the ink was purposely upset upon the neat carpet; the paper on the walls scribbled with pencil-marks ; chairs and table hacked with penknives; and divers kinds of damage done to books and slates. My patience was becoming exhausted; I had reasoned, pleaded, and expostulated in vain; and when the stock of forbearance is utterly used up, there is generally found to be an abundance of another commodity wherewith to supply its place.

The first week of my sojourn in the house drew near its end. Already had compassionate glances been cast upon me by the servants; already had Mrs. Clyve's own maid assured me that my pupils could never be managed by mortal woman; and on Saturday morning I came downstairs, prepared to make a final effort at subjugation, and inwardly determined that it should not be a failure.

Breakfast over, we repaired to the school-room, and I placed myself as usual at the table, with a pile of books before me.

"Have you learnt your lessons, Isabel ?" I asked. "No," she answered, curtly. "I was busy last night."

"Busy!" I echoed. "Let me tell you, Isabel Clyve, that you have no business, saving such as I give you to do. If possible, I will rescue you from your own contemptible folly, and will endeavour to transform an ill-bred and ignorant girl into a wellinformed lady. You have defied me, and you must therefore be dealt with in a method which may seem strange to you."

Her broad black brows contracted, and her dark face grew pale with suppressed rage. But my plans were all prearranged, and I was not afraid of her.

"Ill-bred and ignorant!" she repeated, insolently. How dare you say such things, Miss Elderwood? Don't you know that papa was an officer and a gentleman, and that I am

"A discredit to him. Yes, Isabel; you see I dare to tell you the truth. Now will you, or will you not, learn these lessons ?"

"I will not ;-I won't repeat another lesson to you!" she cried, furiously.

"Very good," said I, in an equable tone. "And you, Emma and Mary ?"

They maintained a sullen and determined silence, in which the eldest girl encouraged them to persevere. Then, with perfect composure, I left my chair and walked towards the door. Instantly there was triumph depicted on the three faces: they imagined that I was about to summon Mrs. Clyve, and their lips curled in scorn.

66

Come, children," I called to the younger ones, "go into the library, and remain there until I come." They obeyed, and in another moment I had followed them, shut the door, and turned the key upon the astonished occupants of the school-room.

"Isabel," I said, raising my voice, "you and your sisters will continue prisoners until you ask my pardon for your refractory conduct."

My junior pupils, awed and quieted by the course I had adopted with the others, became really tractable