"Oh, Mademoiselle Chatenoeuf!--the disgrace!--the ruin!--I shall never get over it," exclaimed she. "I see no disgrace or ruin, Mrs Bradshaw. Adele has told me that a gentleman had proposed marriage to her, and asked my advice." "Indeed!" exclaimed Mrs Bradshaw. "Yes." "Well, that alters the case; but still, why did she leave in this strange way?" "I presume the gentleman did not think it right that she should marry out of a young ladies' establishment, madam." "Very true: I did not think of that." "After all, what is it? Your French teacher is married--surely that will not injure your establishment?" "No, certainly--why should it?--but the news came upon me so abruptly, that it quite upset me. I will lie down a little, and my head will soon be better." Time went on; so did the school. Miss Adele, that was, sent no wedding-cake, much to the astonishment of the young ladies; and it was not till nearly three weeks afterwards that I had a letter from Adele Chabot, now Mrs Jervis. But, before I give the letter to my readers, I must state, that Mr Selwyn, junior, had called upon me the day before Caroline went to school, and had had a long conversation with her, while I went out to speak with Madame Gironac on business: further, that Mr Selwyn, junior, called upon me a few days afterwards, and after a little common-place conversation, _a l'anglaise_, about the weather, he asked after Miss Caroline Stanhope, and then asked many questions. As I knew what he wished, I made to him a full statement of her position, and the unpleasant predicament in which she was placed. I also stated my conviction that she was not likely to make a happy match, if her husband were selected by her father and mother; and how much I regretted it, as she was a very amiable, kind-hearted girl, who would make an excellent wife to anyone deserving of her. He thought so, too, and professed great admiration of her; and having, as he thought, pumped me sufficiently, he took his leave. A few days afterwards, he came upon some pretended message from his father, and then I told him that she was to be removed in October. This appeared to distress him; but he did not forget to pull out of his pocket a piece of music, sealed up, telling me that, by mistake, Caroline had left two pieces of music at Kew, and had taken away one belonging to his sister Mary; that he returned one, but the other was mislaid, and would be returned as soon as it was found; and would I oblige him so far as to request Miss Stanhope to send him the piece of music belonging to his sister, if she could lay her hand upon it? "Well, I will do your bidding, Mr Selwyn," replied I; "it is a very proper message for a music-mistress to take; and I will also bring back your sister's music, when Caroline gives it me, and you can call here for it. If I am out, you can ask Madame Gironac to give it to you." Upon which, with many thanks and much gratitude for my kindness, Mr Selwyn withdrew.