May I ask your patience while I introduce myself-the writer of the following chapters? I am sitting before the looking-glass at the end of my room as I write, I not from any vanity, you will readily perceive that as you read on-but so that I may try and reflect with my ink the picture that I wish to present to you of a rather sad-I only say rather, for, upon the whole, I am very cheerful, -thin, pale, careworn-looking woman, with hair that has long been scant and grey-whiter, perhaps, than that of many people at eight-and-forty