text:  Madame Mina appears to be a person of very superior powers of mind far better qualified to superintend the female department of a Spanish queen's education than the bigoted and _afrancesada_ dowager-marchioness who preceded her in the office and in the selection of whom Maria Christina with her usual selfishness had probably thought more of the political principles and opinions in which she wished Isabella to be brought up than of her daughter's future welfare and happiness