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 keeping up the highest intellectual standards for which the school was known, he hoped to teach his pupils to be women of the world in the best sense—charming women of the world. "You'll find it," he added, with his first smile, "a very useful thing to be."

He withdrew, leaving behind such a tumult of applause and discussion as the assembly-room had never heard before. Miss Curtis, still emotionally stirred, followed him to the office.

"Oh, Mr. Bevans," she said, "that did touch us all—what you said about your dear aunt. It was beautiful—beautiful."

Mr. Bevans was immensely gratified that Miss Curtis liked it, but did she know where Mr. Johns was, as he had business in town. As a matter of fact, he had not as yet notified the automobile company that he had ceased to be their salesman. "I think Mr. Johns must have stopped to speak to the little princess."

"To the what?" said Austin.

"To his little granddaughter—Elise Benedotti. You know his daughter married, most unhappily, an Italian prince—both dead—the child—a sweet child—I'll go and see."

Miss Curtis hurried away, still murmuring information.