Year: 1877

llttu XIV Cll llluo
warm color creeping into her murky skin,
her dull eyes kindling. "Then he will
teach Y


"Yes, if-if = He will teach ,yoat, if that
IS what you mean; OF course he will.
only meant that the professors terms are
very high"


$50 much the BETTER" said Miss Van
Coot. 1t was really wonderful how well
the basque fitted her One would cer-
tainly have thought that her left side was
the same as her right; and Miss Van Coot
was SO pleasant Il lady, it would have
been a thousand pities if she had not
been able to afford to have skilltul
dress maker, one who made her work Il
continued study. | was really all of this.
1t is no egotiSm to mention it, was
quite famous in my line Of business, and
was particularly successful in Kidding any
little awkwardneSS OF defect in shape or
carriage. | began by feeling sorry for
those who were afflicted in this way, and
determined, us far as in me lay, to ameli-
crate these little disadvantages. And the
professor never would have known Of this
inequality Of Miss Van Coot's if he had
not, so to speak, tortured it out Of me
that unlucky morning.


When | had quite finished, and had
gone to the door with Miss Van Coot, it
50 happened that the professor also came
into the corridor by the pallor. 81 shall
walk out Il little,' he said to me, ''until
she returns" And at that moment he
reached the top of the landing where
stood my wealthy customer. OF course he
lifted his hat from off his splendid ruddy
hair, and bowed his handsome head, and
waved his plump white hand for her to
pass on before him. A lady was always
honored with all this gesticulatory dis
tinction by the professor, whosoever she
might be- Miss Van Coot, with one eager,
devouring look upon him, went on to her
carriage, from which she looked again !;
but as for the professor, he went on his
way unmindful, humming Il little roundc-
lay under his breath, and holding his
head high in the air But when he came
back again, luncheon was not quite ready,
Miss Winthrop had not come, and moth
ing would do but he must know why he
had found these foolish tears in my eyes
that morning.


-'It was Miss Winthrop" he said. "You
need not try to shield her. | know her,
to my cost. She is arrogant; she is with
out heart; she has said that which has
cut thee to the SOUL


"Nonsense, professor" said quite oft
my guard. 1T was only that made a
stupid mistake in Miss Van Coot's basque.
She has to be padded all the way up the
left shoulder


'Gott in IIimmel" ~ cried the professor:
and then saw my imprudence,


at is nothing" | said, "when one can
afford to have a skillful dress maker"


But the professor leaned back in his
chair and raised his hands to heaven. 1t
was only natural that he should con-
slider it a terrible misfortune whose
physique was like that of the Apollo Bel
yedere.


'FShe has lots of money!" | said.


"a silver mine will not buy her !; new
spine, said the professor.


1T will serve to make her own very
presentable," reioned "and, besides,
she is so good and kind"


"Ah," he said, hesving a sigh from the
bottom Of his lungs, THAT is better than
all. She is honest, perhaps, and truth
full. At least she will not, perhaps, lie
as You Americans say, us fast as the horse
will trot. She will not promise to sit at
Your table at a certain hour, and then 90
away and give no further thought to the
matter. There are some people whose
spjnes may be all that is desirable, but
their hearts, my gracious Fraulein, they
are black to the core


1t was too bad that Helen did not come
as she had promised. The professor did
not fully get over his disappointment till
he came to the pudding, which was for
tunatelV as near perfection us a pudding
can be.


His eyes grew less terocious us he
dallied with the tlaky put1s, the fierce
lines about his mouth gave way, Il gen
crous, bcnignant expression gradually
beamed upon his face.


"And them" at last he said to me,
'.thou hast not only the spine without
Whatever thou undertakest to do, is done
wisely and well. Gesegnete Mahlzeit,
may the meal be blessed to thee. If thou
wouldst be IL saint in heaven, continue to
be a good HanstIau upon the earth.


Thanks to the pudding, he went upon
his way rejoicing. When Helen came, it
was soggy and ruined; but Helen was not
very hard to please. \ bit of toast, Il
poached egg, a morsel Of any sort, par
ticularly III the Lenten season. was all
she would ask.


When told her of the professors dis
pleasure, she laughed in that mocking,
musical way OF hers : but thought there
was a tenderness in its ring, and there
was melting look in her great black
eyes. a tremulous sweetness about her
mouth. that made me look at her again.
She could wear a Dolman with more
grace than any one | ever saw and Just
the little ruttle of cashmere lace about
her neck and the two creamy roses well
down upon her hat, made her like some
beautiful picture.


1t was fully a fortnight before the pro-
tessor came again to stay any time. lie
was very busy. Miss Van Coot had not
only prevailed upon him to take her as a
pupil, but he had consented to manage Il
musicnie for her at her house on the
Avenue.


Miss Van Coot and the professor SEEM
ed to get on very well together. One
morning that | went there to fit some
trimmings upon the white corded silk
was making for her musicaIr, found the
professor reading to her his translations
of a tragedy from the German. once in
a while he would appeal to her judgment
in the formation Of a sentence, and al
though she would pause to criticise, she
invariably agreed with his version in the
end. So that he began to talk to me OF
Miss Van Coot us he had formerly OF
| Helen.


And the night OF the mtsicale, to which
| did not go-AIiss Van Coot, in her kind
way, invited me, but it Was not expected
that | would accept the invitation-tha
night Miss Van Coot looked very well in
deed. went to arrange her dress be
fore the entertainment, and really Miss
Van Coot looked almost handsome. The
excitement had lighted up her heavy face
and although it was risk, | never ha(
better luck with any thing than | ha,
with that corded silk polonase. Miss Var
Coot was SO pleased with it that she was
kind enough to send me home in her car
Il 81 e,