I'll get her all by myself this evening, and talk to her." Accordingly that evening, after the inmates of Penelope Mansion had, as Mrs.Flint styled it, "tea'd," Jasmine sat down on a footstool at Mrs.Dredge's feet, and laid herself out to be bewitching.

No one could be more charming than this little maiden when she chose, and she had tact enough to adapt herself on most occasions to her company.
"I'm sure you have lots of experience, Mrs.Dredge," she began; "you look as if you had--your face tells me that you have gone through many episodes"-- (Jasmine was rather proud of this expression; she began to consider that her style was forming).
"Episodes, my dear, and experiences ?" answered Mrs.Dredge.

"Well, well, I'm not to say over young, and years bring knowledge; but if you mean, Miss Jasmine, that I'm up to the acquirements of the present day, that I'm not, and I never will be,--no, thank Heaven! that I never will be." "Do you mean with regard to education ?" remarked Jasmine.

"Is the education of the present day wrong ?--is that why you're so thankful you are not up to it ?" "My dear Miss Jasmine," answered Mrs.Dredge, with great solemnity, "the education of the present day is to the heart hardening, and to the mind demoralizing.

No, no; none of it for me.