The constitutional union., 1861-01-04

as respectfully as if she had been one, as l said:
 :" We have had the pleasure of meeting be- fore, Cuthbert' '
 :. As l told you, murmured the governess, " I went down to tell him you were absent"
 The ceremonies of dinner now began, and as a seat had been assigned me beside Blanche, 1 tried to play agreeable, but 1 often found my thoughts wandering to the pale, silent girl opposite. When the meal was over and the ladies had left the room, we fingered at our wine.
 :" What do you think of my sister 2" asked Cuthbert
 ' She is very beautiful" replied
 And you have fallen in love at first sight?"
 '' If I have I shall not tell you p I ex- claimed, and there we went on chatting in merry strain. When we adjourned to the great, cool, luxurious parlor I found Mrs Cuthbert and her sister, but the governess was walking to and fro on the terrace, appa- rently absorbed in thought. The usual small talk ensued and at last at my request the heircss sat down at the piano, and played and sang with much skill. had observed a harp n the boudoir adjacent and begged her to sweep its strings for me-
 '' 1 cannot" she said " but Miss Marguer- ite can; 1 will call her" And moving to the window, she exclaimed imperiously:
 Come, Marguerite, we wish you to play some airs on the harp"
 The governess hesitated a moment, came in and took seat at the harp. As she sat there ! noticed for the first time the superb proportions of her fingers, the graceful poise of her head on the stately neck but forgot those when she smote the chords of the harp and began to sing Was she an improvisa- trice ? 1 thought she must be, so full of soul was the music she poured forth, and when she concluded asked Mrs Cuthbert whose composition 1t was.
 Her own," she replied, "and she never knows what she is going to sing when she commences"
 1 uttered no fullsome words of commenda- tion to Marguerite, but my eyes must have spoken volumes of approval
 That night when l retired to rest, my dreams were haunted by the pale face had seen at the wndow-the face of Marguerite the goyerness.
 The next morning I was awake at an early hour, and glancing out saw Marguerite gid ing across the lawn. hastened to join her Her cheeks wore rich glow, her dark, lus- trous eyes were full of light, her lips trcmu- lous with smiles her white apron was full of snowy blossoms, and had wreuthcd spray of jassamine amid the blackness of her hair How We began to talk l scarcely know, but | never was so entertained by any woman as by her. 1 could touch upon no object in lite rature or art with which she was not familiar and Madame de Steal might have coveted her conversational powers. On the lawn We separated but when we met at breakfast in the presence of the Cuthberts and the supercil- ous hciress, l saw the old governess look had come back to her face. and she was more rcti- cent than ever. Ny friend proposed horse back excursion to a boiling spring in the ncighborhood, and when our party assembled on the yerandah, l noticed with the kccuest disappointment that the goyernees had been excluded. l rode at the brdle rein of the fair Blanche, who looked very pretty in the blue habit, and with her velvet cap set coquct- tishly above her golden trcsses, but l found 1t an effort to interest myself in her common place chit-chat l felt sense of relief when we dismounted at the hall, and as soon a, l had led my partner in, bounded up the stair case. On my way to my chamber 1 passed an open door, and through it caught glimpse of Marguerite. The two children were busy at their tasks, and she sat patiently correcting d sketch which one of them had made X portfolio lay beside her which 1 doubted not was filed with her own drawings. She heard my step. and looking up saw me on the threshold
 :" she exclaimed, have you re- turned 50 soon? l did not expect you for an hour or two. 1 hope you have enjoyed your self"
 No, I have not. was really disappointed because you did not go'
 \ faint smile passed over her face.
 "l-l, she muttered, '' you cant under stand etiquette if you suppose goyerness is to made an equal"
 felt the blood rush to my brow as re- piled
 "There are many false notions in society; 1 am sure Mrs. Cuthbert's governess is the equal of any one here, and as such l regard her"
 Her face crimsoned, and for a moment there was a silence, which was broken by her saying
 ' Is this the school-room ?"
 "Yes"
 < It looks very cool and pleasant; may come in ~
 suppose Mrs. Cuthbert would have no objection"
 II hope not;' and with these words moved to the table at which she was sitting
 Does that portfolio belong to youY 1 in quired, laying my hand on the earticle in quos- tion She bowed assent, and 1 resumed, " shall have the pleasure of examining its contents 7"
 Certainly, sir"
 She was calm, grave, quiet, but when I drew forth the pictures and began to expatiate upon them her reticence vanished Her eyes lit, the pale cheek glowed, her lips parted, and she talked with the enthusiasm of girlhood The sketches were indeed won- dertul, and at last 1 said
 Its shame for you, with your genius for painting, to drudge as a governess."
 Again that peculiar smile huttered over her features, and she murmured- Tlo ,oo,. ,,,,r+ do ,rb,+ +Ior oo, ,o4