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42 in spite of their long services, as articles fit only for the lumber-room. On returning from church, Mela was surprized to see the alteration that had taken place in their parlour, where every thing was so elegantly arranged, as would have done justice to any church festival. She was still more surprized to find her industrious mother sitting idle on a week day, and smiling very complacently, so as to show that nothing unpleasant had occurred. Before she had time to inquire into the reason, the latter eagerly began to give a joyous explanation of the change. What a stream of eloquence flowed from her lips; her imagination was all in a glow, and in brilliant colours she described with female minuteness the approaching happiness in store for them. She looked into her dear girl’s face for the mantling blush of virgin modesty—the earnest of future love, and full obedience to all her maternal wishes. Daughters in those ages were exactly in the same situation as modern princesses: their inclinations were the last thing to be consulted, and they were spared every kind of trouble in regard to the period of wooing,—they had merely to signify their consent at the altar.

How surprized, then, was Madam Brigitta to find herself mistaken: for, instead of blushing rosy red at these unexpected tidings, she grew white as a sheet, and had like to have fainted in her mother’s