The demon in her got possession again of her tongue.

"Do you find the young lady intelligent ?" she inquired.
"Certainly!" Only one word--spoken perhaps a little sharply.

The miserable woman shrank under it.

"An idle question on my part," she said, with the pathetic humility that tries to be cheerful.

"And another warning, Mr.
Vere, never to judge by appearances." She looked at him, and returned to the children.
Ovid's eyes followed her compassionately.