to place Angelique on the best terms with her new companions, who were almost al rich and of good birth,-introduced her at the school as a relation. Angelique went still further, in announcing to her school-fellows that she was Madame Olympe's niece, so that they, to whom this was of no importance, always called her Angelique de St. Yves. But what rose has not a thorn? the little girl, self-willed and idle, soon rebelled against the discipline of the school. She had scarcely been there a fortnigh: when she pretended she had serious ground of complaint. She said she was badly fed; that she was made to rise too early, which gave her a headache; and other griefs equally groundless. Madame Olympe resisted the first attacks; but we de not know whether her firmness would not at length have given way, had not her brother placed it beyond her power to yield to her usual weakness, as we shall soon learn.

To return to Angelique. Whilst she was leaning, as we have seen, against thterrace wall, she felt an arm placed round her waist, and turning her head, she saw young Matilda, M. Andre's grandchild, who was a day-pupil at the school. Matids perceiving she was in tears, embraced her affectionately.

"Is it right to vex yourself thus for being deprived of a walk?" she said to her. "But I am wrong, it is not punishment that causes tears, but rather sorrow for having deserved it, and in this case--"

"Indeed, Matilda, it is neither the one nor the other," rejoined Angelique; "only I cannot endure to be degraded for nothing, before a whole school.”

"But think, Angelique, that we are all exposed to the same unpleasantness. Today it is your turn, to-morrow it may be mine, or some one's else."

No, no; I am the only one that is punished, you are left behind because you wished it."

"I know that; I asked permission to spend the walking hour in reading-but what have you done?"

"Nothing, dear."

"Allow me to say that is impossible; Madame is considered an enlightened and just person."

"My only fault, however, is not having learned my lesson, and excusing myself on the plea that I did not feel to-day in the humour for studying."

"Ha, ha! could you have supposed that reply would have satisfied her? Really there would not be many prizes to distribute at the holidays if teachers waited until each pupil found herself in the mood to study."

"What! cannot I have a headache or toothache?"

"When the pupils are ill they go to the infirmary, but no attention is paid to fancies. Seriously speaking, Angelique, is it not to be instructed that we are placed here? Are we to regulate the hours for lessons? Ought we not rather to conform to them? What did Madame say in reply?"

"That she was very sorry for the dullness of spirit of which I complained; that did not, however, prevent my running and jumping at play, and she desired me to shake it off also, when study required it, under pain of being punished——” "And then?"

"I insisted on my point, although politely. I said that the effort did not depend upon my will; that I am not accustomed to do violence to my feelings; in short,

I do not remember any more of my expressions, but Madame seemed very much displeased, and forbade my going out, accusing me of setting a bad example. Can you approve of such severity, Matilda ?”

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"Ah, dear! is it not our duty to obey? If each pupil had the right to remonstrate, it would be impossible to regulate so many persons. It may do tolerably well at home, but here we must submit to rule. Between ourselves, I believe that hitherto you have known none; your aunt rarely checks your fancies."

'My aunt is kind and affectionate; if I did not deserve it, it appears

"Are you now going to quarrel with me?"

"No, no; you are a good girl, but the others are worth nothing."

"How unjust!"

"I tell you that I cannot forgive their bitter smile during that little scene, nor the manner in which they passed me with their bonnets on, as if to mock me in my humiliation; they will not fail to do the same on their return."

"Not unless you provoke them. Do you see that little cloud, which passes across the sky without leaving a trace behind? Let your grief disappear with it, and the subject will be forgotten."

"As far as I am concerned, I feel that is impossible."

Would

"In order to succeed, let us read the story for which I remainded at home; it is in the paper entitled 'La Récréation,' written expressly for young persons. you like to begin?"

"No, nor to finish," replied Angelique; (for we know that she could not read well).

"Is it because it tires you?"

"Yes, and without amusing me much."

"You have, however, told me that you like to hear stories related."

"I do not deny that."

"But written ones are much better."

"Do you think so?"

"Listen to this one. I am the more anxious to read it, because my father, who knows the author, told me it was a little boy of thirteen, who has never received regular tuition."

"In such a case, no doubt it is something extraordinary," rejoined Angelique, disdainfully.

"We shall see," replied Matilda, seating herself on the edge of the terrace.

CHAPTER XIX.

PRIDE AND FALSEHOOD.

WOUNDED pride is not easily healed, and the most entertaining book, although diverting it for a time, cannot induce forgetfulness of the grievance. The sorrow that Angelique felt was, in reality, but slight. What displeased her was to find herself the subject of her companions' raillery, in consequence of her profound ignorance. She had imagined that the name of St. Yves, which she willingly added to her own, would secure the deference of the other young people, not knowing that amongst pupils assembled for instruction, superiority naturally attaches to the most clever amongst them. So that, although her companions were far from suspecting that

this little girl, so vain and imperious, was only the daughter of a gardener, they did not laugh the less at the proofs of ignorance she constantly manifested, and at her numerous orthographical errors.

The day following that on which she was deprived of her walk, Angelique was called into the drawing-room, where she was a little mortified to find Hersilia, instead of Madame de St. Yves, whom she anxiously expected. Her vexation would have been greater had she known the cause of this disappointment. We shall relate it to the reader, who has the privilege of being acquainted with every circumstance. M. Philéas, whose advice had at length induced his sister to place her protégée at a boarding school, not doubting that Angelique, accustomed to de nothing, would soon be tired of her new position, endeavoured to render her complaints useless, by removing from her, especially at that time, a patroness who was but too much inclined to listen to them. He, therefore, begged Madame Olympe to accompany him to a watering place. She protested against this proposition.

"Ah, brother, what a time you select! Shall I abandon that poor Angelique when my countenance is more needful than ever?"

"On the contrary, the time appears to me altogether opportune. Our two protégés are both placed with persons worthy of our confidence, and I do not see what encouragement Angelique can expect from you.”

"She has not been prepared for the discipline of a school, brother,—you know it very well. It will appear very hard to her."

"She will conform to it better in your absence, sister."

With her well-known disposition, Madame Olympe could not resist her brother, any more than she could her godchild; and, as the latter was ignorant of this excursion of a month or six weeks, she was persuaded to undertake it, but charged Hersilia to visit her dear Angelique often.

The servant could not help laughing on seeing the disconsolate air of the little girl.

"Confess that to-day you cannot say I am welcome," she said to her.

"I am not sorry to see you, Hersilia; but it is true that, having many important things to say to my godmamma, I should have been more pleased had she come herself. I hope she is not ill?”

"Her health is extremely good."

"Shall I see her to-morrow?"

"I cannot give you any hope of that. Business, at least as important as yours, will keep her away for several weeks."

"Several weeks! Nonsense, I do not believe you! Madame Olympe would never have abandoned me thus."

"It is not abandoning you to send me in her place. I have full power to gratify your wishes, provided they are reasonable."

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In that case, my dear Hersilia, take me away from this house, where I become more unhappy every day."

"Do you call that a reasonable request?' asked the servant, laughing. You have only been here three weeks."

"I shall die of grief if I be left here any longer."

"Of what do you complain?"

"Of the discipline, the governess, the pupils,-in short, of everything." "Let us take things in order. What part of the discipline displeases you?" "I am expected to be content with the ordinary diet of the table." "Do you really think that there should be a particular dish for each pupil? Of course there are several, and it is strange if one do not suit you. indulge whims, it would not be worth while trying to check them. do you make of the governess?"

Were it right to

What complaint

66 "She overwhelms me with duties, and punishes me when I grumble." "Are you not placed here to learn all that is taught, and to respect the authority of the lady who directs the establishment? Let me now hear something of the pupils."

"In your present mood you will, doubtless, think it quite proper that they should be permitted to criticise my faults in spelling, and to make me the subject of their jokes ?"

"No; I allow it would be more kind in them to spare you a little; but what can you expect? Youth is thus constituted, and your only resource is to work hard and become more learned. I advise you, in the meantime, to be the first to laugh at your little mistakes. That is the shortest way of making others serious." "You will not, then, take me away with you?"

"Of what use would that be? Girls at school are all alike. You would not be happier elsewhere.

"If that be all you can say, you need not have come. At least you will take charge of a letter I am going to write to my godmamma?"

'Certainly, if it be well done; but I have not time to wait for it-you write so slowly. Send it by post."

"Yes, indeed! and have it pass under the scrutiny of the governess of whom I complain. Not one goes from the school without being read by her."

"That is a wise precaution," said Hersilia, rising to leave.

Angelique was still under the influence of bad temper, occasioned by this visit, when Maltilda came, saying, as she took her by the hand, "You have told me of your love for flowers. My grandfather's little gardener has brought me two pretty plants of heliotrope,-one for the teacher, the other for you. Come and see if it be not true."

It was play-time; the pupils made a circle round the gardener, or rather the flowers he had placed on the table. Angelique pushed her companions aside, saying proudly:

"One of these heliotropes is for me. No one must meddle with it. What is the price of it?" she added, drawing out a handsome purse.

"Do not you understand that it is a present from me?'' replied Matilda. "Therefore close your purse, unless indeed," she said in an under tone, “you think proper to give a trifle to the little gardener."

'Certainly; I happen to have a piece of money quite new. Here, my boy―." But suddenly, raising her eyes to him for the first time, she started back in surprise upon recognising her brother Noel, who, on his part, looked at her equally astonished."

“Matilda,” replied Angelique, drawing her aside and still holding the money in

her hand, "he is not a servant-your grandfather's gardener-you will laugh, I dare say."

"No, dear, his extreme youth makes you doubt it, but it is true. The poor boy thinks we are talking of him, he blushes and smiles in a strange manner."

Angelique, much alarmed, directly made up her mind what to do, for the thought of being recognised as the sister of a servant, before all her companions, woundei her pride so much, that she resolved to brave it out, sooner than expose herself to such a thing. She therefore advanced towards her brother, with the most deter. mined expression of hauteur, and gave him the piece without daring, however, to look him in the face. Noel had too much penetration not to understand the reason for this manœuvre : he saw his sister was ashamed of him, and, deeply wounded at her conduct, felt for a moment inclined to punish her; but noticing the embarrassment, which, in spite of herself, was perceptible beneath the assurance she assumed, be took the money, and said in a significant manner :

"I accept your money, mademoiselle; you are rich and I am poor, we are very differently situated."

He retired without adding anything further, leaving Angelique the more displeased with herself because she thought she saw tears in her brother's eyes.

Poor Noel was indeed much hurt at this humiliation. "The ungrateful girl !” said he to himself,-does she not deserve to be exposed, at least, to Mademoiselle Matida By so doing I should cover her with more disgrace then she has brought on me today, for it is better to show who we really are, than to impose by a borrowed greatness, which makes us ashamed of our nearest relations; but she may rest assured that I shall be silent, that I shall even forget her, and from this moment she shall be no more to me than a stranger."

Angelique's reflections also were painful; she was kind-hearted, and the thongi: of the lively sorrow she had occasioned her brother, made her very unhappy. What a reward for all his attentions to her! how she wished to ask his forgiveness! An opportunity was afforded her, by Matilda seeing her every day, but Angelique could not make up her mind to lay aside her borrowed dignity. She asked herself, with surprise, "How it happened that her brother was a servant."

Solomon having come the following Friday, that being a holiday for both, she related her sad adventure to him, as well as the teacher's presence allowed, who was in the room with them.

"Did you know," whispered she to him, "that Noel had left home to fill so degrading a situation?"

"It makes me fear some misfortune has happened to our family," replied Solomon. "How is it you did not hear all about it, as you saw him?"

"There were so many people. I am supposed by all here to be Madame Olympe's niece, and as such Noel was presented to me-I had not the courage—”

"To own him as your brother, is not that what you mean?"

"What would you have done in my place ?"

"Oh! Angelique, nothing in the world would cause me to close my arms against my mother's son, against my own brother, against such a brother as Noel is, so