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"'Tis a dark labyrinth the human heart." .

one evening attended Madame de Mercœur to the small circle allowed entrance to the Queen's dressing-room. The morning had been one of great fatigue, so that but few of the court were admitted; and Anne of Austria herself was in that demi-toilette so favourable to the twilight of beauty. She wore a loose dress of gray silk, edged with black, and fastened with loops of pearl. A portion of her still beautiful hair was parted in two rich auburn bands on her forehead; while the rest was hidden by a long black crape veil, which hung nearly to her feet, and set off the exquisite fairness of her skin, the more striking as she wore no rouge. It was difficult to suppose her the mother of the young man who leant on the back of her chair; for Louis looked as much older than he really was as she looked younger.