“There, that will do,” said Lady Dorothea, angrily; for any attempt to provoke seemed an utter failure. “I think I have nothing more to say. When I shall see your mother I can explain more fully to her. Good-morning.” “I wish your Ladyship good-morning,” said the girl, with a deep obeisance, and in a voice of perfect deference, while she retired towards the door. Before she had reached it, however, Lady Dorothea again addressed her. “You forgot, I think, to tell me why you left the Duchesse de Luygnes?” “I left on the marriage of the Princess, my Lady.” “Oh, I remember; she married a Russian, I think.” “No, my Lady; she married the Duc de Mirecourt, French Ambassador at St. Petersburg.” “Ah, to be sure. I knew there was something Russian about it. And so they sent you away then?” “The Duchess most kindly invited me to accompany her, my Lady, but my father desired I should return to Ireland.” “And very properly,” said Lady Dorothea; “he took a most just view of the case; your position would only have exposed you to great perils. I'm sure you are not of my opinion, for distrust of yourself does not appear one of your failings.”--It is possible that this ungenerous remark was evoked by a very slight curl of the young girl's lip, and which, faint as it was, did not escape her Ladyship's keen glances.--“Good-morning.” Again had Miss Henderson gained the door; her hand was already on the lock, when her Ladyship called out: “In the event of anything occurring to me likely to suit you, I ought to know what you can teach; and mind, don't bore me with a mere catalogue of hard names, but say what you really know.” “Some modern languages, my Lady, with music.” “No Greek or Latin?” said Lady Dorothea, half sneer-ingly. “Latin, perhaps; but though I can read some Greek, I could not venture to teach it.” “Nor Hebrew?” “No, my Lady.” “And the modern tongues,--which of them do you profess to know?” “French, Italian, Spanish, and German.” “And don't you draw?--they showed me what they called yours.” “Yes, my Lady, but I cannot teach drawing.” “And of course you are thoroughly versed in history. Have you studied any scientific subjects?--mathematics, for instance.” “Only a few of the French initial books, my Lady.” “Why, you are quite an Admirable Crichton for acquirement. I feel really abashed to find myself in such company.” But even this coarse speech failed to irritate, and Lady Dorothea walked angrily towards the window and looked out.