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OUISA VILLARS had hitherto reigned in the midst of her family like a queen amongst her subjects, for the house wherein she dwelt was wholly governed by her. Love gave her authority over her too indulgent parents, and fear prompted the domestics to obey her implicitly. Happy are they who by their virtues acquire an ascendancy over the hearts of those with whom they dwell; but this was not the case with Louisa. Scarcely anyone really loved her, for she was vain, ill-tempered, and self-sufficient. We are, however, more inclined to pity than to blame her, while we attribute her errors to the faults in her education.

It was a laughable sight to see this little girl dressed out at her early age in the very extreme of the fashion, and loaded with every piece of finery her diminutive