She met my eye as unflinchingly as if her bosom had been steeled with conscious innocence.

She was resolved to know the worst, and determined to dare it too.

'I can crush that bold spirit,' thought I.

But while I secretly exulted in my power, I felt disposed to dally with my victim like a cat.

Showing her the book that I still held, in my hand, and pointing to the name on the fly-leaf, but fixing my eye upon her face, I asked,--'Do you know that gentleman ?' 'Of course I do,' replied she; and a sudden flush suffused her features--whether of shame or anger I could not tell: it rather resembled the latter.