-TURNS OF FORTUNE. 23

self acquainted with every source and system
of education. No traveller in the parchy desert
ever thirsted more for water than she did for
knowledge, and her desire seemed to increase
with what it fed upon. The more she had the
more she required; and all this was for the
sake of imparting all she learned to Mabel.
She fancied that teachers might not be kind to
this new-found idol; that she could transfer in-
formation more gently and continuously ; that
the relative was the best instructress; in short,
the pent-up tenderness of her nature, the re-
strained torrent of affections that had so long
lain dormant, were poured forth upon the little
heiress, as she was already called ; and captious
and determined she was, as ever heiress could
be; but withal of so loving a nature, and so
guileless a heart, so confiding, so generous, and
so playful, and overflowing with mirth and mis-
chief, that it would have been impossible to
fancy any living creature who had felt the sun-
shine of fourteen summers more charming or
tormenting. 7

©] wish, dear aunt,” exclaimed Mabel, one
morning, as she sat at her embroidery, the sun
shining through the open window upon the
abundant glories of her hair, while her aunt sat,
as she always did, opposite to her, that she
might, when she raised her eyes from off the
Italian lesson she was conning for her especial
edification, have the happiness of seeing her