CHAPTER I.-CANDIDATES. MIRIAM CLINT was about to leave school. She was not glad of it. She was eighteen years old, and had her notions and her visions about coming out, like other girls of her age, and especially of her appearance. The time to which these notions would naturally have tended, and these visions soared, was at hand, and yet Miriam Clint was not glad of it. This is a paradox which requires explanation. Miriam had every reason to believe that her visions would remain entirely unfulfilled; she had good cause to like the school at which she had passed eight years, in tolerable comfort to herself, and harmony with her surroundings; and she had no cause whatever to like home, or to anticipate that it would be more endurable when she should have returned thither 'for good,' than it had been during her dismal holidays. Miriam was not of a sentimental disposition, but she had strong feelings, and a good deal of decision of character, a combination which had made her a favourite at Miss Monitor's school. She was in earnest in her likes and dislikes; and being as good-natured as a clever, healthy girl usually is, especially when she is freely acknowledged to be much prettier than her companions, her likes were more numerous than her dislikes. Thus, there was commotion and dismay at Crescent House, Hampstead, when it became known that Mr Clint had refused to accede to Miriam's petition for one more half,' and that she was to go home immediately. Miriam became more emphatically than ever a 'poor darling; and Mr Clint, her father, who had always been considered a horrid man,' now received public mention as an old brute.' There was less injustice than VOL. IX. Shakspeare. usually attends a sweeping censure in this designation. Mr Clint was an old brute. Until within three days of breaking-up time, Miriam had hoped to gain her father's consent to her remaining at Crescent House, not because she wished to remain, and counted on his indulgence for that reason, but because she honestly believed he must dislike the prospect of her return as much as she did. "It is impossible I can ever be anything but a tremendous bore to papa, you know,' she said, frankly, to Miss Monitor, with whom she was on confidential terms. Every one bores him, you know, but Walter and I bore him above and beyond every one else. I suppose it is just for appearances' sake he wants me home, and I can't help hoping he won't be able to resist the temptation of getting rid of me for six more months.' Miss Monitor shook her tight little head, and replied: My dear, I should not count on that, if I were you. If your papa is having you home against his inclination, or even without it, for appearances' sake, I can only say it is the first time I have ever heard of his making such a sacrifice. No, no, Miriam; depend upon it, you will have to go.' Miss Monitor was right. Suspense in the schoolroom, and hope in the breast of Miriam and her young friends, were put an end to by the arrival of the post on the following morning. Miriam opened her father's letter, and the first glance dissipated her hopes. THE FIRS, 3d June 18-. Dr Miriam [There!' was the girl's mental commentary; he is always more ill-tempered than usual when he uses abbreviations! What illtempered and ill-bred things they are!']—You have 屯 given me the trouble of writing two letters instead of one. Don't do that again. You will come home as arranged, on the 6th; I have put an advt for a maid in some mg papers, and directed applicants to call at Crest House to-morrow between the hours of 12 and 4. From among them you will select, with Miss M.'s advice, a suitable person, to attend upon you, make your clothes, &c. Wages L.20. The person you select must be ready to come here with you on the 6th. You will come by express, leaving Lond. Bge at 11 A.M.—Y's truly, REG. CLINT. Tears of anger rose in Miriam's eyes. It isn't only that he refuses my request, but he puts it aside in such a cold, contemptuous way,' she muttered; I shall never be able to care for him in the least, or get on better with him; and I did | mean to try. It's well for Walter he's a man ; he can do as he likes; he is not obliged to stay at home, and put up with papa. I don't wonder at him; I couldn't blame him for anything!' Miriam,' said Miss Monitor, entering the room with her accustomed precision of step and manner, but with a decided increase of the winter-apple colouring of her plump cheeks, I need not ask you what news you have. Your father treats me with scanty courtesy, and I suppose blames me for your unwillingness to go home. He might recognise that at least you have been happy here.' 'He doesn't care, dear,' said Miriam, flinging her arms round Miss Monitor's prim little figure with an energy that caused that lady to rock upon her tightly shod little feet, and obliged her to rearrange her collar, her apron, her cuffs, and her neck-ribbon. He doesn't know anything about my being happy or unhappy, and as for gratitude! well, never mind that. I'm grateful, and I always shall be.' "I am sure of that,' said Miss Monitor; and then perhaps remembering that the tone in which they were discussing Miriam's father was not quite most appropriate to their mutual relation, she changed it for one of admonition mingled with consolation. Miriam listened with ill-disguised impatience, and then shewed how very little she understood the principle of that filial obedience and reverence which Miss Monitor was, with some inconsistency, endeavouring to instil into her, by assuring her impetuously that she would do her very best to put up with' her father for Miss Monitor's sake. Miss Monitor had some reason to be offended with Mr Clint. His letter to her contained the following words: Dr Madam-Be so good as to acknowledge by return the enclosed cheque for amt of yr acct, and to send Miss Clint home, according to my directions.-Yrs truly, REG. CLINT.' Miss Monitor was not a high-minded woman, but neither was she a humbug. She did not 'train the minds of her pupils,' as the modern style of prospectus has it, to any transcendental heights of principle or feeling; she made no professions of horror at the notion of a lady's boarding-school being a speculation intended to pay, for she had intended hers to pay, and it was paying, and no woman in the world knew better than she did that no school could be really like home, if home were all it should be. But she knew equally well, and practically, that honesty is the best policy; and she was honest according to her light. She liked Miriam Clint, but she had no accurate comprehension of either her strength or her weaknesses; and she could hardly have been expected perfectly to understand how much the girl stood in need of pity, who would have genuinely preferred to remain at Crescent House rather than return to her father's roof. To Miriam, duty translated itself by 'devoirs,' and pleasure meant going to select evening parties, and occasionally to the opera, with one or two other favoured pupils, under the auspices of Miss Monitor; and taking riding lessons in the early summer mornings, with her particular school-friends, on which occasions the ridingmaster was accompanied by his pretty young wife. Nothing could be more proper or more pleasant, Miriam then thought. She hated leaving all this, and she hated the thought of the home she was going to. The position of affairs seemed to absolve Miss Monitor and Miriam from any bonds of conventional restraint. I never was a hypocrite about it, was I, dear?' said Miriam. 'Don't you remember, long ago, when we did our compositions for Mr Walker, I never would write letters about the pleasures of home and the delights of the country? There is no pleasure in home to me, and I always did and always shall hate the country.' 'Don't say that, Miriani,' said Miss Monitor, with a wise shake of her head. You would like it very much if you were married to a country gentleman with a nice property.' Miss Monitor's own vision of ultimate bliss was retirement to a cottage, with a cow and a poultry-yard. Depend on it, that would make all the difference. And, remember, you must have gone home in order for that to happen. You couldn't have married here.' 'I'm not so sure of that,' said Miriam impetuously; but then, recollecting herself, she added with some confusion: At least-I mean, something might have turned up, you know. However, it is all over now, and there's no good in talking about it; but of one thing you may be certain, if ever I marry a country gentleman, he must be well enough off to take me away from the country-no rurality for me.' The dialogue was interrupted by Jane, a trim parlour-maid, who informed her mistress that a young person' had called about the maid's place for Miss Clint. There was an additional shade of respect in Jane's manner of mentioning Miriam, a recognition of her added dignity in the prospective possession of her own maid. "Take her into the waiting-room, and say I will see her presently,' said Miss Monitor; and then added, when Jane withdrew: 'Go and smooth your hair, Miriam, and make yourself tidy before you see this person. It would never do for her to see you looking like that.' 'Oh, what can it matter?' said Miriam rebelliously, in the thoroughness of her ill-humour and discontent. The question is, whether she will suit me, not whether I shall suit her.' "There is a little of both in the question, my dear,' replied Miss Monitor decisively; and it is always worth every one's while to make a favourable impression.' This was one of those lessons which Miss Monitor might be fully trusted to administer conscientiously to her pupils. Miriam ran up-stairs to her own room, as the |