"Then rest satisfied that henceforth you will always have a place in my prayer; but do not forget the greater necessity of praying for yourself. Now, tell me how you have been employed during my long absence. Where are the accumulated exercises which I promised to examine and correct when I returned?" "Promised whom?" "You." "You forget that I did not see you the day you left, and that you did not even bid me good-by." "I referred to your French exercises in a brief and hurried note that I left for you." "Left where? I never received--never heard of it." "I laid it upon your plate, where I supposed you would certainty notice it when you came home to dinner." "Why did not you give it to Miss Jane?" "Simply because she was not in the room when I wrote it. It is rather surprising that it escaped your observation, as I laid it in a conspicuous place." She did not deem it necessary to inform him that on that unlucky day she had suddenly lost her appetite, and failed to go to the table; and now she put her fingers over her eyes to conceal the blaze of joyful light that irradiated them, as he mentioned the circumstance, comparatively trivial, but precious in her estimation, since it was freighted with the assurance that at least he had thought of her on the eve of his unexpected departure. What inexpressible comfort that note might have contributed during all those tedious months of silence and separation! While she sat there thinking of the dreary afternoon when, down in the orchard-grass she lay upon her face, Dr. Grey came nearer to her, and said,-- "I hope you have not abandoned your French?" "No, sir; but I devote less time than formerly to it." "If agreeable to you, we will resume the exercises as soon as I can wield my pen." "If you can teach me Italian, I should prefer it; especially since I have learned to pronounce French tolerably well?" "What use do you expect to have for Italian,--at least, at present? French is much more essential." "I have a good reason for desiring to make the change, though just now I do not choose to be driven into any explanations." "Pardon me. I had no intention of forcing your confidence. When in Italy, I always contrive to understand and make myself understood; but my knowledge and use of the language is rather too slip-shod to justify my attempting to teach you idioms, hallowed as the medium through which Dante and Ariosto charmed the world. Miss Dexter, Muriel's governess, is a very thorough and accomplished linguist, and speaks Italian not only gracefully but correctly. I have already engaged her to teach you whatever she may deem advisable when she comes here to live." "You are very kind. Is she a young person?" "She is a very highly cultivated and elegant woman, probably twenty-five or six years old, and has been in Florence with Muriel." Involuntarily and unconsciously the orphan sighed, and the muscles in her broad forehead tangled terribly.