The natives, you know, are intensely stupid and vulgar; but there are some nice English families." "Are you in a school ?" "Yes." "A good one ?" "Oh, no! horrid: but I go out every Sunday, and care nothing about the _maitresses_ or the _professeurs_, or the _eleves_, and send lessons _au diable_ (one daren't say that in English, you know, but it sounds quite right in French); and thus I get on charmingly....

You are laughing at me again ?" "No--I am only smiling at my own thoughts." "What are they ?" (Without waiting for an answer)--"Now, _do_ tell me where you are going." "Where Fate may lead me.

My business is to earn a living where I can find it." "To earn!" (in consternation) "are you poor, then ?" "As poor as Job." (After a pause)--"Bah! how unpleasant! But _I_ know what it is to be poor: they are poor enough at home--papa and mamma, and all of them.
Papa is called Captain Fanshawe; he is an officer on half-pay, but well-descended, and some of our connections are great enough; but my uncle and godpapa De Bassompierre, who lives in France, is the only one that helps us: he educates us girls.

I have five sisters and three brothers.

By-and-by we are to marry--rather elderly gentlemen, I suppose, with cash: papa and mamma manage that.