We had not been long at our lessons when a voice, gaily singing, approached the door, and without the ceremony of knocking, the gentleman whom we had passed in our morning ramble entered the room.

“I have been looking all over for you; why are you hiding yourself away up here?” said he, merrily.  “Can you not take another pupil, Miss Reef?” at the same time drawing up his chair to the table at which Herbert and myself were seated.

“If he is as tractable as Herbert, I might venture,” I replied, assuming the gay, mocking tone of my questioner.

I soon saw that he was bent on remaining; so, taking from my desk a drawing-book and pencil, I placed them before him.

“There is your task; please not to interrupt me.”  I was determined not to be beguiled from my duty by this gay cavalier.  He permitted us to pursue our studies uninterruptedly till he had finished his drawing.

“There,” he exclaimed, placing it before me.  “Will you not reward me for my industry?”

I looked at the sketch.  It was bold and clear, shaded with a firm hand, spirited and original.  I was truly surprised at the skill evinced.

After that day he visited our room often, calling in during the morning to exchange a pleasant word, or at the close of the school hours to loiter over our drawings and chat of books and music.  His visits began to grow too pleasant to me.  Some effort must be made on my side to render them less attractive.

One afternoon he entered as usual, and waited patiently till Herbert had recited his closing lesson.  Then he arose, and taking a guitar from its case, commenced playing and singing a song in a most bewitching manner.

“Come, Miss Reef,” said he, when he had finished, “that beautiful hand is just made to glide over this instrument.  Allow me to give you a lesson.”

Feeling that if I permitted him to encroach upon my position as governess I would be lost, I refused.  I must give him to understand that I know my place and will not be trifled with, I thought; so I arose and rang the bell for Mary.  She soon appeared, apparently surprised at seeing Mr. Richard Bristed so much at home in the school-room.

“Mary, sit down; I wish you to hem this handkerchief for Herbert,” said I.

She seated herself with my work-box before her, and commenced plying her needle industriously.  The young gentleman looked on my arrangement with a lurking smile for a few moments, and then uttering a long, low whistle, arose from his chair and sauntered out.  Passing me, he whispered: 

“I will remember you for this, Miss Reef.”  He did seem to remember it, as several days elapsed without his presenting himself.

Once I met him in the hall, and he merely bowed.  If he had wished to arouse in me an interest in himself, he could not have pursued a better plan; for I grew restless and uneasy, regretting heartily that I had offended him.