"Oh yes. Madame thinks I shall acquire French easily. She reads French verses so splendidly, and I am doing well in Latin, but oh, there are such stores of reading! It is a hardship to tear myself away, and poetry just enchants me--well, when it is high and fine. I have begun 'The Idylls of the King.' Oh it must be just glorious to write such poetry!" "It is a rare gift, and it is something to be able to read and appreciate." "I sometimes envy the girls who have so much leisure, yet they seem not to improve it. But then--oh, you don't know how lovely it is here, how much there is to interest and satisfy. Of course I'm not _quite_ satisfied at present," and Lilian gave a light laugh, "but the town is so truly beautiful and the house--I wonder if it is silly but I walk about at times and do enjoy the soft rugs, the handsome furniture, the pictures, the beautiful bits of art scattered around, and oh, the books! There never was anything like it in my life before, and if I go back to comparative poverty, which I suppose I shall some day, for I never can earn any thing like this, it will linger in my mind as a journey to some enchanting place. There is so much to learn all the time. Not merely out of books but the sweet and gracious things one can do; Mrs. Barrington is so lovely. Am I tiring you with these visionary things?" "No, my dear girl, I am glad you can enjoy them and treasure them up without a feeling of envy. We cannot all of us abound in this world's goods, but we can be glad someone has them and is willing to share them with us, at least, allow us to look on." "I'm going to study every day and get on as fast as possible. I'm longing for the time when I can earn money and have a little home of our own. I wish"--then she paused and recovering herself after a moment, resumed--"I wish to make some nice friends in my own walk in life, among those who really love to work and bring about results." "And I am sure you will do it. And loving whatever is fine and true and gracious shapes one's character. God has given us the sense of enjoyment and he means us to make the best use of it that we can. Oh, we must turn about. See how far we have walked, and there is a baby crescent moon." The dun white of the sky was thinning into blue and here and there a star pricked through. It was clear and crisp yet the air had a fragrance of the cedars and spruces. They hurried along, and Lilian promised to meet her friend tomorrow for another walk. She had never been an effusive girl, but she could talk so easily to Edith and in the interchange she could throw off the things that annoyed or depressed her. So they said good-night and she entered the pretty vestibule where she had first seen Mrs. Barrington. Her heart gave a quick bound as she thought of that lady's confidence in her truth. Mrs. Dane must sometime be convinced of her injustice.