156 IN THE HIDING-SCHOOL. 



play up to her partner as well as possible, that 

 she " liked it very well." 



" I should have them reset," says the former 

 speaker. " Like mine, you know ; light and airy. 

 Deah me, I usedn't to care for diamonds, and 

 now I'm puffectly infatooated with them, don't 

 you know ! My ! " she screams, catching sight 

 of a church clock, and, relapsing into her every- 

 day speech : " Half-past four ! And I am due 

 at " — [An awkward pause.] " I promised to 

 return at four ! " 



There is no more talk about diamonds, but a 

 hurried scramble to dress, and a precipitate de- 

 parture, after which one of the other ladies is 

 heard to say very distinctly : " I remember that 

 girl as a pupil when I was teaching in a public 

 school, and I know all about her. Salary, four 

 dollars a week. Diamonds ! " 



" She registered at the desk as Mrs. Some- 

 thing," rejoins the other. "She only came in 

 for one ride, and so they gave her a horse with- 

 out looking up her reference, but one of the mas- 

 ters knew her real name. Poor little goosey ! 

 She has simply spoiled her chance of ever be- 

 coming a regular pupil, no matter how much 



