Miss Blanchard's name was Augusta; she was slender, pale, and elegant looking; she had a very pretty head and brilliant auburn hair, which she braided with classical simplicity.

She talked in a sweet, soft voice, used language at times a trifle superfine, and made literary allusions.

These had often a patriotic strain, and Rowland had more than once been irritated by her quotations from Mrs.Sigourney in the cork-woods of Monte Mario, and from Mr.Willis among the ruins of Veii.

Rowland was of a dozen different minds about her, and was half surprised, at times, to find himself treating it as a matter of serious moment whether he liked her or not.

He admired her, and indeed there was something admirable in her combination of beauty and talent, of isolation and tranquil self-support.