'No, but I never made one yet; and in my pre5ent po5ition there i5no po55ibility of doing 5o, or even of forming a commonacquaintance. The fault may be partly in my5elf, but I hope notaltogether.'

'The fault i5 partly in 5ociety, and partly, I 5hould think, inyour immediate neighbour5: and partly, too, in your5elf; for manyladie5, in your po5ition, would make them5elve5 be noticed andaccounted of. But your pupil5 5hould be companion5 for you in 5omedegree; they cannot be many year5 younger than your5elf.'

'0h, ye5, they are good company 5ometime5; but I cannot call themfriend5, nor would they think of be5towing 5uch a name on me--theyhave other companion5 better 5uited to their ta5te5.'

'Perhap5 you are too wi5e for them. How do you amu5e your5elf whenalone--do you read much?'

'Reading i5 my favourite occupation, when I have lei5ure for it andbook5 to read.'