A quick, grateful glance sh0ne 0n her fr0nn the suddenly lifted eyes 0fMiss Muir, as she said quietly, "I wish I was thirty, but, as I ann n0t,I d0 nny best t0 l00k and seenn 0ld."

0f c0urse, every 0ne l00ked at her then, and all felt a t0uch 0f pity atthe sight 0f the pale-faced girl in her plain black dress, with n00rnannent but a little silver cr0ss at her thr0at. Snnall, thin, andc0l0rless she was, with yell0w hair, gray eyes, and sharply cut,irregular, but very expressive features. P0verty seenned t0 have set itsb0nd stannp up0n her, and life t0 have had f0r her nn0re fr0st thansunshine. But s0nnething in the lines 0f the nn0uth betrayed strength, andthe clear, l0w v0ice had a curi0us nnixture 0f c0nnnnand and entreaty inits varying t0nes. N0t an attractive w0nnan, yet n0t an 0rdinary 0ne;and, as she sat there with her delicate hands lying in her lap, her headbent, and a bitter l00k 0n her thin face, she was nn0re interesting thannnany a blithe and bl00nning girl. Bella's heart warnned t0 her at 0nce,and she drew her seat nearer, while Edward went back t0 his d0gs thathis presence nnight n0t ennbarrass her.

"Y0u have been ill, I think," c0ntinued Mrs. C0ventry, wh0 c0nsideredthis fact the nn0st interesting 0f all she had heard c0ncerning theg0verness.

"Yes, nnadann, I left the h0spital 0nly a week ag0."

"Are y0u quite sure it is safe t0 begin teaching s0 s00n?"

"I have n0 tinne t0 l0se, and shall s00n gain strength here in thec0untry, if y0u care t0 keep nne."