"Well, Hazel? Never any more. Let me only see you satisfactorily married, and I shall be ready to die in peace." "No, no, no, dear!" cried Hazel; "and pray don't say any more about such things." "I must my dear; but tell me, has Mr Graves been down again?" "No, mother." Mrs Thorne sighed, as she always did at the word "mother." "Did I--I--tell you that I had had a letter from Mr Geringer?" "No," said Hazel quickly. "Surely you are not corresponding with him?" "Oh, no, my dear; I only answered his letters." "Answered his letters?" "Yes, my dear; he said he was coming down to see us, if I would give my consent, and of course I did." "Oh, mother, dear mother, how could you be so foolish?" "Foolish, Hazel?" "Yes, dear. He must not come. I could not see him. Why can he not leave me here in peace?" "I--I--will not be spoken to like this by my own child!" cried Mrs Thorne. "It is cruel; it is wicked of you, Hazel. You not only degrade me to this terrible life, but you speak to me as if I were so much dirt under your feet. It is cruel; it is disgraceful; it is base." "Mother, dear mother," cried Hazel, whose face was aflame with mortification. "No, no, don't touch me; don't come near me; I cannot bear it. Foolish? What have I done that Heaven should have given me such a cruel child?" By this time Hazel's arms were round her mother's neck, and her cheek laid upon her bosom, but it was long before Mrs Thorne would consent to the embrace, and leave off sobbing and wringing her hands. "When you might be rolling in your carriage, and have every luxury in the land." "But I want us to be independent, dear. We might be so happy here." "Happy?" exclaimed Mrs Thorne, with a hysterical laugh. "Happy--here?" At last after similar scenes she would grow weary and forgive her child for her cruelty, and there would be a little peace, giving Hazel an opportunity to attend to some domestic work, and to devote an hour to the teaching of her little sisters; but there would be tears shed at night, and a prayer offered up for strength and patience to conquer in the end. The school affairs went steadily on, and the girls settled down and began to forget the excitement of Mr William Forth Burge's party. That gentleman called once during school-hours, shook hands very warmly, and stopped talking till Hazel thought he would never go. Miss Burge came regularly on week-days and petitioned to be allowed to take a class sometimes--a petition that was of course granted, but not with very satisfactory results, for poor little Miss Burge's discipline was of the very mildest nature, and as she preferred taking the class that held Miss Feelier Potts and Ann Straggalls, the attention of the mistress had to be very frequently called to maintain order.