As the sun puts out a star, so the full blaze of his imagination, fairly kindled, extinguished for the time his fairy fancy for his beautiful pupil.
It was late that night when Maltravers went to bed--and as he passed through the narrow corridor that led to his chamber he heard a light step flying before him, and caught the glimpse of a female figure escaping through a distant door.

"The silly child," thought he, at once divining the cause; "she has been listening to my singing.

I shall scold her." But he forgot that resolution.
The next day, and the next, and many days passed, and Maltravers saw but little of the pupil for whose sake he had shut himself up in a country cottage, in the depth of winter.

Still he did not repent his purpose, nor was he in the least tired of his seclusion--he would not inspect Alice's progress, for he was certain he should be dissatisfied with its slowness--and people, however handsome, cannot learn to read and write in a day.

But he amused himself, notwithstanding.