MRS. SOMERVILLE. 2/ 



hints can never be disregarded without unpleasant 

 consequences, and the girl who refuses to act upon 

 them will not only injure her health, but lessen her 

 capacity for work. 



Our student soon found this out, and after one 

 or two painful experiences she did what girls in her 

 position will always find to be wisest and best As soon 

 as ever she realised that her brain was refusing to at- 

 tend closely and reason clearly, she ceased to make de- 

 mands upon it. Immediately she put aside her task, 

 and took up either a story-book or a piece of needle- 

 work. Poetry was her great resource at these times. 

 Novels, too, she read with interest, and, strangest of 

 all, ghost stories and witch stories. 



If it should be thought incredible that a highly-edu- 

 cated woman, such as Mary Fairfax afterwards became, 

 should at any time of her life have felt the slightest 

 interest in ghostly legends, we must recall to mind that 

 times then were different from times now. Then the 

 common people all believed in apparitions, and even 

 the upper classes felt an unpleasant tremor when 

 darkness came on and found them near a churchyard, 

 or alone in one of the many places which then had a 

 reputation for being uncanny. Mrs. Somerville in 

 later life was accustomed to tell of a naval officer, a 

 friend of hers, who doubtless was brave as a lion when 

 brought face to face with real dangers. This gentle- 

 man confessed that he never opened his eyes after he 

 was once in bed. He was asked why. " For fear I 



