Page:Libussa, Duchess of Bohemia; also, The Man Without a Name.djvu/33

Rh they possessed in the highest degree, and their discourses were oracles, without their being at all aware of it. Their vanity, however, was soon aroused by the voice of flattery. The word-catchers seized each sound from their mouth; the Celadons interpreted each movement, espied the slightest smile, explored each glance of the eye, saw in them more or less favourable omens, and believed they could guess through them their fate; and since that time it is customary with lovers to ask from the horoscope of the eyes the success or disappointment of their love. No sooner had vanity seized upon the virgin heart, than pride and arrogance, its invariable concomitants, were already at the door, accompanied by their associates,—egotism, selfishness, self-praise, and obstinacy; and, one after another, they all gained admittance. The elder sisters strove to surpass the younger one by their arts, and secretly envied her superior bodily charms: for although they were all three beautiful, still Libussa surpassed the other two in loveliness.

Miss Bela chiefly applied herself to botany; as did Medea in former times. She knew the hidden virtues of herbs, and could extract from them both poison and its antidote.