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 hours; and for that reason, as she explained, she never kept any of her adjutants more than eighty-four months beside her, and when she took them, they were exactly fourteen years and seven months of age. None of them, however, ever lived the eighty-four months with her; her society, and the instructions which she was perpetually tendering to them, were always so edifying, that long before the term of mystical months had expired, they had in each case provided themselves with good husbands. The duty of the adjutants was to keep her company, to read to her, to keep the household accounts, and to conduct her correspondence under her own direction; the old lady always chose the prettiest girls for this employment, without regard to rank or birth; but as she conducted a correspondence in French, English, and Italian, a knowledge of all these three languages was indispensable; and she further required a competent and lady-like acquaintance with music, fancy-work, and dancing. The girls led a glorious life under her roof; she always kept the best company, and she took care to provide her adjutants with elegant dresses, and every thing necessary to their comfort. She stood godmother to the eldest children of those that got married; and the rest she handsomely provided for by legacies.”

“Well, and whom of the fair adjutants would you recommend to the young heir?” inquired the host with a smirk.

“Which one?” replied Mr Sander, pouring the remainder of his bottle into his glass. “Why none other than my own niece, the daughter of my brother, lieutenant in the fourth militia. Gladly would I see her married to him, and the rich nephew would just suit his uncle’s views of things. Charlotte, I say, sir, is a darling girl; she has a pair of eyes black as any sloes; her cheeks rival the peach in softness and beauty of tint and hue; in waltzing she has not her match in all the countryside; she can chatter French so glibly that my very hair sometimes stands on end with wonderment at her. And she writes like a writing-master himself.”