"My life is spoiled," I cried; "but I will do what you say." 

And I made to myself a vow, which I kept through all temptation, never once to complain to my mother about Miss Reinhart. I did keep it, and Heaven knows how much it cost me. 

My father was rather surprised the next day when I went to his study and asked him if I could begin my lessons at once. He laughed. 

"What an energetic scholar," he cried. "Why do you wish to begin so soon, Laura?" 

"Because I have so very much to learn," I replied. 

"You shall begin this day, Laura," he said; "but Miss Reinhart must see mamma first, and arrange the best hours for study. There are two or three little arrangements I should like changing -- for instance, now that mamma is never present, I cannot see why you and Miss Reinhart should not take breakfast with me. I am very lonely, and should be delighted if we could manage that. But I must speak to mamma. Then I should like you to go on dining with me, as you have done since mamma's illness. It makes me quite ill to enter that great, desolate dining room. Do you remember how mamma's sweet face used to shine there, Laura?" 

Did I? Did I ever enter the room without? 

"Make your mind easy, Laura; you shall begin your lessons today, and we will see what mamma wishes to be done." 

That day an arrangement was made: Miss Reinhart and I were to breakfast and dine with papa; the morning, until two was to be devoted to my studies, and the rest of the day, if mamma desired her presence, Miss Reinhart was to spend with her. We were to walk together, and I was, as usual, to go out with mamma when her chair was wheeled into the grounds. 

"Heaven send that it may last!" said Emma, when she heard of it. 

I wonder if any angel repeated the prayer?

CHAPTER VII. 

To me it seemed that I was as old at fifteen as many a girl of eighteen; I had lived so much with grown-up people; I had received all my impressions from them. I was very quick and appreciative. I read character well, and seemed to have a weird, uncanny insight into the thoughts and ideas of people -- into their motives and plans. I had too much of this faculty, for I was often made uncomfortable because shadows came between me and others, and because I seemed to feel and understand things that I could never put into words. 

 Prev. P 23/49 next