In the course of this sobering process she became calm.

I now went on: "As to the substance of your devoir, Mdlle.

Henri, it has surprised me; I perused it with pleasure, because I saw in it some proofs of taste and fancy.

Taste and fancy are not the highest gifts of the human mind, but such as they are you possess them--not probably in a paramount degree, but in a degree beyond what the majority can boast.

You may then take courage; cultivate the faculties that God and nature have bestowed on you, and do not fear in any crisis of suffering, under any pressure of injustice, to derive free and full consolation from the consciousness of their strength and rarity." "Strength and rarity!" I repeated to myself; "ay, the words are probably true," for on looking up, I saw the sun had dissevered its screening cloud, her countenance was transfigured, a smile shone in her eyes--a smile almost triumphant; it seemed to say-- "I am glad you have been forced to discover so much of my nature; you need not so carefully moderate your language.