Year: 1871

impression of her, taken from her letter,
was more than realized when l saw her.
| She was not beautiful in the strict meaning
of the word but her fair, calm face was
full of truth and intelligence her graceful
movements and gentle manner completed
her charm. There was something, too, in
her face which cannot well express. 1t
passed over her, and shadowed the radiance
of her youth. She had a sweet, patient
smile, but never heard her laugh as the
really happy do.


We found her not only highly accom-
plished, but also thoroughly well educated.
She was well versed in literature, and her
judgment was as sound as her thoughts
were clear. Miss Person proved a valua-
BILE acquisition to our small circle.


Mine was by no means one of those fami-
lies where the governess is treated as de-
she was looked upon by every member of
the household with the greatest respect and
attention. The children soon became de-
votedly attached to her my wife looked
upon her as most valued friend and
amongst all our acquaintance, she was most
deservedly popular. also saw good quail
ties in her that are somewhat rare. | nev-
er heard the faintest approach to false or
an equivocating word from her lips and,
no matter how severely she was tried, |
never knew her patient sweetness of temper
to fail.


One thing seemed to me strange: Miss
Porson never spoke of her past life or of
her friends. There were no "reminiscences
of parents or sisters all her thoughts SEEM
ed centred in the present.


One evening" have remembered it
since-after very cheerful dinner party,
young lady, one of our guests, was kind
enough to sing some of her best songs for
our amusement. II was beautiful summer
night, and the drawing-room windows were
thrown open, that we might enjoy the de-
licious fragrance of the flowers.


Miss Maitland had magnificent voice,
al
thos. She sang that most beautiful of
melodies, Beethoven's "Adelaida - the
wild, mournful, but most lovely music,
moved me strangely. Miss Person was sit
ting near an open window, and as the mu-
sic filed the room, caught one glimpse of
her face, that | have never forgotten. |
never saw such intensity of misery in any
human countenance before. That calm, fair
face was quivering with inexpressible an
guish her hands were clasped convulsively ;
there was a far-off yearning look in her eyes
could not bear to see. l went to her i'm
mediately, and asked if she were i'll. She
did not hear me at first but when she did
so, a crimson flush covered her face.


81 beg your pardon, Mr.. Ferne," she
said, "no, am not i'll. / used to sing
that song long ago and l suppose was
thinking of that time. Pray excuse me I
do not often forget myself"


Indeed she did not.


Three years after this my happiness was
made complete by the birth of son and
heir. He grew fast and was fine sturdy
little fellow. The incident / am about to
relate took place when he was two years
old.


Miss Person and my wife were out one
morning walking in the shrubbery. They
returned through small iron gate, which
brought them to the side of the house.
Happening quite accidentally to look up
ward, Miss Porson was horror-struck to see
little Harry standing outside one of the
windows, on narrow stone balcony, not
two feet in width. He was standing quite
still, gazing intently into the room he had
left, apparently quite overcome by the
grandeur of his performance. Miss Porson
touched my wife's arm. A shrek, sound
from within, and my darling boy would, in
turning to look at them, have deem dashed
to the ground.


My wife, who was just recovering from a
severe illness, and was still weak and deli
cate, sank on the grass. She did not faint
or swoon, but her strength left her. She
could not even turn her head, but lay there,
her eyes fixed with terrible fascination
upon the little white speck on the stone
ledge. was in the hall, preparing to &c
out, when, to my great surprise, saw Miss
Porson enter rapidly, though silently, with
quiyering lips, and pale face. saw her
hastily remove her shoes, and almost fly
upstairs. did not follow, for she waved
me back. In three more minutes she 70.
turned with my little boy in her arms and
then I learnt his danger, and her presence
Of mind. She had hurried to tho room,