"Helen!" exclaimed he, springing forward to meet me, while my hand was extended toward him; and I believe my countenance was equally encouraging. That yielded hand was pressed by turns to his lips and his heart; but still we neither of us spoke, and Seymour suddenly disappeared. Mr. Ridley, who was that _melancholy_ thing to other people a _professed joker_, to my great relief (as it enabled me to recover myself,) now came up to me bowing respectfully, and begged me to veil my face again; for he saw that my excessive ugliness had been too much for his poor friend, and he hoped for his sake, as well as that of the rest of mankind, I would conceal myself from sight. I told him, when his friend came back I would consider of his proposition, and if he approved it I would veil directly. Before Seymour returned, I asked Mr. Ridley whether he suspected who his presuming monitor was. "Pray, madam," he archly replied, "say that word again. What are you to Mr. Pendarves?" "I said 'Monitor.'" "Oh--_monitor_! I thought you were _something_ to him, but did not exactly _know what_. No wonder he was so alarmed at sight of you, for monitors, I believe, have a right to chastise their pupils; and I begin now to fear he will not come back. Do you use the ferule or the rod, Miss Pendarves?" "You have not yet answered my question, sir!" "Oh! I forgot. 'Heavens!' cried he, as you closed the door, 'is it possible? Could that be my cousin, Helen Pendarves? Yes, it could be no other; and yet'----Is that like him, madam?" "Oh! very!" "'Well,' I, in the simplicity of my heart, replied, 'your cousin she may be; but my wife told me her name was Pen.' "'Oh yes, it must be Helen--it was her own sweet voice and manner!' "'She is given to scolding, then--is she?' said I. "'Oh!' said he, 'she is!' But I will spare your blushes, madam; though I must own that I could not believe you _were_ the lady in question, because my wife told me you were hideous to behold, and _he_ said you were a beauty: besides, when he last saw you, he added, you were thin and short; but then he eagerly observed, that a year and a half made a great difference sometimes, and you had not met during that period. But here comes the gentleman to answer your questions himself. What I further said did not at all please him." "No! what was it, sir?" "That, if you were indeed Miss Helen Pendarves, you were a great nuisance, for that you had won and broken at least a dozen hearts; but that it was a comfort to know you would soon be removed from the power of doing further mischief, as you were going to be married to a Swiss gentleman, and would soon leave the kingdom." "And you told him this?" cried I, turning very faint. "Yes, I did; and he had just turned away from me, when you made your appearance." Seymour now entered the room; and I was, from this conversation, at no loss to account for the gloom which overspread his countenance, while he hoped Miss Pendarves was well.