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280 tone, "I really must thank the Signora Carrara; she holds the box so that the light comes through quite beautifully!" and turned away with another of her sweet and intelligent smiles. The carriage, with the lady in waiting, being announced, Henriette departed, leaving Madame de Mercœur charmed with her grace, and her admiration of the favourite caskets.

But though Francesca strove to repress the idea, as harsh and unkind, she could not repress the feeling, that this grace was but the perfection of art. How must the natural emotions have been checked—the wild, warm impulses of childhood subdued; how much of dissimulation taught as a study, before a child could be so guarded, and so ready in resource! "'Tis a weary apprenticeship to serve," thought the; "And, after all, is not this perfection of manner a thing rather to be admired than loved?—love asks reality."

Visitor after visitor filled up the morning; and late in the day, to Francesca's utter astonishment, Evelyn was among the number, looking equally well in health and gay in spirits. He came into the room accompanied by the Chevalier De Joinville; and they were discussing, with much animation, whether blue and amber, or green and scarlet, were the best mixture of colours.