And, of course, a better technical preparation would have saved Isabel Bretherton an immense amount of time; would have prevented her from contracting a host of bad habits--all of which she will have to unlearn.

But the root of the matter is in her; of that I am sure; and whatever weight of hostile circumstance may be against her, she will, if she keeps her health--as to which I am sometimes, like you, a little anxious--break through it all and triumph.
'But if you did not understand her quite, you have enormously helped her; so much I will tell you for your comfort.

She said to me yesterday abruptly--we were alone in our gondola, far out on the lagoon--"Did your brother ever tell you of a conversation he and I had in the woods at Nuneham about Mr.Wallace's play ?" '"Yes," I answered with outward boldness, but a little inward trepidation; "I have not known anything distress him so much for a long time.

He thought you had misunderstood him." '"No," she said quietly, but as it seemed to me with an undercurrent of emotion in her voice; "I did not misunderstand him.

He meant what he said, and I would have forced the truth from him, whatever happened.