"Well，and what of John Reed?"

"Oh，he is not doing so well as his mama could wish. He went to college，and he got- plucked，I think they call it: and then his uncles wanted him to be a barrister，and study the law: but he is such a dissipated young man，they will never make much of him，I think."

"What does he look like?"

"He is very tall: some people call him a fine-looking young man; but he has such thick lips."

"And Mrs. Reed?"

"Missis looks stout and well enough in the face，but I think she"s not quite easy in her mind: Mr. John"s conduct does not please her- he spends a deal of money."

"Did she send you here，Bessie?"

"No，indeed: but I have long wanted to see you，and when I heard that there had been a letter from you，and that you were going to another part of the country，I thought I"d just set off，and get a look at you before you were quite out of my reach."

"I am afraid you are disappointed in me，Bessie." I said this laughing: I perceived that Bessie"s glance，though it expressed regard，did in no shape denote admiration.

"No，Miss Jane，not exactly: you are genteel enough; you look like a lady，and it is as much as ever I expected of you: you were no beauty as a child."

I smiled at Bessie"s frank answer: I felt that it was correct，but I confess I was not quite indifferent to its import: at eighteen most people wish to please，and the conviction that they have not an exterior likely to second that desire brings anything but gratification.

"I daresay you are clever，though," continued Bessie，by way of solace. "What can you do? Can you play on the piano?"