"
"I'll talk to Mrs. Dredge to-night," said Jasmine. "I think Mrs.
Dredge is very practical and kind, and I don't know why Miss Slowcum
should dislike her so much. I'll get her all by myself this evening,
and talk to her."
Accordingly that evening, after the inmates of Penelope Mansion had,
as Mrs. Flint styled it, "tea'd," Jasmine sat down on a footstool at
Mrs. Dredge's feet, and laid herself out to be bewitching. No one
could be more charming than this little maiden when she chose, and she
had tact enough to adapt herself on most occasions to her company.
"I'm sure you have lots of experience, Mrs. Dredge," she began; "you
look as if you had--your face tells me that you have gone through many
episodes"--(Jasmine was rather proud of this expression; she began to
consider that her style was forming).
"Episodes, my dear, and experiences?" answered Mrs. Dredge. "Well,
well, I'm not to say over young, and years bring knowledge; but if you
mean, Miss Jasmine, that I'm up to the acquirements of the present
day, that I'm not, and I never will be,--no, thank Heaven! that I
never will be."
"Do you mean with regard to education?" remarked Jasmine.
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