On this family gathering, Mary, who was now in her sixteenth year, gave sufficient proof that learning to be domestic had not prevented her from becoming accomplished. A young French lady was present with whom Mary conversed with ease in her own tongue. "You speak with a pure accent, mademoiselle," said the young lady; "have you resided in France?" "No," was the reply; "but mamma was at school in Paris for years, and she has spoken French to me from my infancy." In the course of the evening Mary was called upon to accompany her aunt Herbert in a duet for the harp and piano, and in this she succeeded so well as to gain approbation from every one present. Another unexpected success awaited her. She had attempted to copy on ivory a miniature of her mother painted by Sir George Hayter. It was in truth only the effort of a learner, and by no means so deserving of praise as her studies of heads and landscapes; yet when Mr. Armstrong produced it, framed and reposing in a velvet-lined morocco case, it obtained for her great commendation. "Oh, papa," said Mary, blushing deeply when she saw it in his hand, "my painting is not worth all that expense." "I have had it done to show my approval of your conduct, Mary," said her father, in a low voice. The flush on her face deepened at the words. Mary Armstrong sought for no greater reward than her father's approving smile. "Well, brother Armstrong," said Colonel Herbert an hour afterwards, when the party were about to separate, "I must congratulate you on the success of your plans. If you are as much satisfied with Mary's exploits in the domestic line as we are with her in other respects, you have no reason to complain of failure." And thus armed at all points but _one_ for contact with the world, Mary Armstrong passed from girlhood to womanhood without a care for the future. CHAPTER VII. FREDDY'S NEW SCHOOL. More than three years have passed since Mary's probation ended so pleasantly, and they have very much changed her father. Perhaps we ought to say that the gentle influence of his wife and close association with her family, had to a certain extent softened down the rugged points of his character, and made him more amenable to the usages of the society in which he moved. The very fact of his choosing for a wife a woman of education and refinement proved that his tastes were above his position, for in the days of which we write, the idea of refinement in the wife of a tradesman would have been treated with incredulity, if not contempt. During this period the death of Mrs. Armstrong's mother, Mrs. St. Clair, was the only change that occurred in his wife's family. The house at Richmond was given up, and Mary greatly missed the society of her dear grandmamma, and the pleasant visits to her house; but she still constantly associated with her aunts and uncles.