"It certainly was not, Miss Della; now dry your eyes, and I will show you something." "A letter, Minn, from--from _him_?" Minny smiled, and nodded her head. "Bathe my eyes, then, and I won't shed another tear." Minny obeyed; and Della, with trembling fingers, tore open the letter, and perused it. "Is it good, Miss?" "Sweet Minny, read it yourself." The quadroon took it, and, as she stood behind her mistress, the tremor which seized her frame, when she looked upon that handwriting, was unseen and unthought of by any but herself. "Delightful, Miss Della." "Yes; now, Minny, put it with the rest." "You won't have it beneath your pillow then, for the first night?" "No, Minn; put it away. I am going to dream of General Delville, to-night, if I can--the best and noblest, and kindest man, excepting somebody you know, that ever I knew." "Indeed, Miss! I'm so glad he proved so." "Oh, yes, Minn, I can never tell you how noble and good he is; but, Minn, these letters--Bernard's letters--you are very sure you kept them all safe, perfectly secure?" "As the apple of my eye, Miss." "I have felt anxious about them sometimes of late, and have thought of offering to take care of them myself; but there's Madam Gerot in these rooms every week; I could hide nothing from her lynx eyes. I think I might do without a governess now--don't you, after having had a proposal from a General?" "Your mamma thinks she perfects your manners, Miss." "All nonsense! I never have any grace or manner when she is in sight. Minny, the truth is, I am prettier and more graceful when I am right here with you, than I would be with all the French dancing-masters and ornamental governesses in the world." "Bless your dear heart!" "Thank you, Minn; nobody ever blessed me save you and General Delville; he blessed me to-day in such a beautiful way, it went straight to my heart. Oh, if it is so sweet to be blessed by the rich, what must it be, Minny, to be blessed by the poor?" Minny was silent. "If ever I get out of fashionable society, Minn, I shall never court it again. It is a heartless sphere! I would sooner be a stone than human, with no humanity beyond flesh and blood, and that cast in a fashionable mould." "Your mamma is a fashionable woman, Miss, and seems very happy." "It is only seeming, Minn. She has more misery over an ill-fitting dress, an unshapely shoe, or an awkward glove, than you and I have in an age. I was born out of my sphere, I know I was; I ought to have been poor." "You may be, one of these days, Miss." "How so, Minn? What do you mean?" "Disinherited." "Oh, no! that will never be, I am certain." "But you'd not be unhappy if it should happen?" "Only for Bernard." "I am very happy to hear this." "Dear Minnie, you have so many foolish fears!" "It is better to think of these things." "True enough. Good night, Minn!" "Good night. You are going to sleep early, Miss?" "So as to have bright eyes in the morning, dear."