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Rh friends, she was found absorbed over horoscopes which she had herself drawn, after attentively surveying the stars. My mother died not long after Seraphina had begun these extraordinary employments, and, on her death-bed, she wished, with her last blessing, to warn her daughter against them; but weakness had increased rapidly, and she was unable to speak as she intended. It was hoped, that, in time, such absurd studies would lose their influence on Seraphina’s mind; but, on the contrary, as she advanced to womanhood, she seemed to persevere in them even more than ever.

“You are aware, my dear friends, how much she was admired at court—how graceful was her figure—how glossy and luxuriant her hair—above all, how unequalled in beauty were her large blue eyes, which oftentimes shone, indeed, with a kind of supernatural lustre, that the beholders felt in their very hearts, but which no poet could ever adequately describe. Many offers of marriage were made to her in vain;—and, for the most part, you know, her time was spent either in seclusion, or with me alone for her companion. She had a great dislike for fine dresses, and outward