the ground, and no one could guess what really attracted her attention. In short, she took no sort of interest either in the amusements or the tasks of other children,—but our father and mother did not give themselves much concern about this matter. They concluded, indeed, that Seraphina’s abstraction was owing merely to a bluntness of perception and feelings, which would always prove a formidable obstacle against her acquisition of those accomplishments suited to her rank. It was proposed, therefore, to send her to a convent, where the sisters devoted their leisure hours to the instruction of young ladies; when, unexpectedly, an old clergyman, who had long been employed to give lessons in our family, assured Seraphina’s friends that he had never, in all his life, met with any child whose mind was more susceptible and powerful than hers. From henceforward, then, our house was constantly beset with masters for languages, drawing, dancing, music, and so forth; but it was soon found, that, among so many pursuits, there was only one in which Seraphina would make any progress. The grammarians, painters, and dancing-masters, shrugged their shoulders, and declared that their
