kind confidence, that cordial love, that mothers should with personal attractions, he captivated at the first feel.

herself in her arms. Yolande became from this moment the mutual confidant of their youthfnl attachment, and all her thoughts and actions were entirely bent to promote this connection, which would ensure to her the only comfort of her life, the hope that she should never be divided from her beloved sister.

Madame Von Belanzon, in the first intoxication of joy with the discovery she had made, communicated the intelligence to her mother, contrary to the established usages by which Madame Von Tournon was governed. She read in the same letter an express

nambon; the idea of a connection founded only upon love, had never before entered the cold, severe mind of this lady. She immediately called all her nearest relations together, to take their counsel on this important affair; all unanimously declared that the proposal was advantageous, and Madame Von Tournon hesitated not a moment to send a formal consent, in writing, to this

glance; and notwithstanding the situation for which he Madame Von Tournon, unfortunately, belonged to was destined, he surpassed all his young cotemporaries that class of women who, confining themselves to rules in knightly exercises. Besides all this, he knew by his entirely, build up a system from these, and give such address how to win hearts; he was master of the then importance to it, that they will never permit the dictates prevailing tone of gallantry towards ladies, and posof their heart to cause them to deviate a hair's breadth sessed that versatility of mind, that all who are inexfrom it. One of the most unfortunate of her principles perienced mistake for something of a much higher order. was, that a mother should never show towards her chil- | Madame Von Belanzon surprised him one day at the dren any outward demonstration of that love which she feet of her sister, and Eglantine, sweetly blushing, flung cherishes for them in her heart. This continued obduracy, the severe requisition of unconditional submission, frightened the naturally timid Eglantine, accustomed to be loved from her mother. Only with trembling did she venture to approach her, and felt always in her presence dejected and constrained. Besides, she was scarcely acquainted with her to whom she had only returned in the course of the few last weeks, after an absence of many years. More than eight years had elapsed since Madame Von Tournon had given her eldest daughter, Yolande, then in very early youth, in marriage to the Count Von Belanzon; and to reward her for the obe-petition for Eglantine's hand from Marquis Von Vadience with which she complied with her commands, she had yielded to her earnest entreaties, and permitted her to take Eglantine, then not quite eight years old, to Arras with her. The young consort of the Spanish Governor was placed, immediately on her arrival at Arras, at the head of a splendid establishment, which, according to the taste for pomp existing at that time, was almost a princely court. Splendor and wealth sur-marriage. Unfortunately, Vanambon's relations, parrounded the newly married lady, but the Spanish etiquette, every where constraining and annoying her, she every where encountered. Yolande missed, very painfully, the sweet freedom of society to which, from her youth, she had been accustomed in Paris. Eglantine was her only remaining comfort; when she was obliged to follow a strange husband to a foreign land, she alone recalled her beloved native land and the joys of her youth. And as the child, in the course of years, grew to the young woman, she was the only friend and confidant of her beloved Yolande, to whom she might complain of all which often heavily burthened her heart. Eglantine's infantine loveliness never developed itself into dazzling beauty, but a peculiar and irresistible sweetness beamed over her whole figure. The serene splendor of the heaven within her breast, shone bright from her soul-beaming blue eyes, and the sweet touching tones of her melodious voice knew always how to find their way straight to the heart. The Marquis Von Vanambon, younger brother of the Count Von Belanzon, lived with her in the house of her sister, in all the familiarity of domestic life, which even the Spanish etiquette did not forbid. He was several years older than Deeply incensed, the Count pronounced him to be a Eglantine, and was staying at Arras, to fit himself in foolish enamored boy, that must be constrained by force learned acquirements for his ecclesiastical station. The to take the road which led to his own good fortune, and young Marquis saw Eglantine daily; he was the com- strongly protested that he would never grant his consent panion of all her pleasures; he taught her to sing the to this marriage with Eglantine. Eglantine's tears, charming seguedillas for the Spanish guitar, that sound Yolande's moving representations, availed as little in like the complaints of love, and it very naturally hap-moving his hard heart, as the Marquis's angry assertion pened that he soon began to regard with aversion the of his rights. The firm resolution of the latter, of his destination for which he was intended, and to which, native right to choose his own situation in life, he ridimoreover, he had never felt any inward call. As he culed; all the rest of his relations took part with the was one of the most distinguished young men of his elder brother. Thus discord reigned in the castle, and age and country, he could not fail to gain the tender utterly destroyed the small remnant of happiness that heart of Eglantine, formed for love. Richly endowed was possessed by Yolande, who in the midst of her

ticularly the Count Von Belanzon, were entirely of another opinion. Meanwhile, the young Marquis had told his elder brother that he loved Eglantine, and was resolved to ask her hand in marriage, and renounce the spiritual vows which the time was now approaching for him to assume. Count Von Belanzon was grieved and offended in the highest degree by this information; his brother's declaration appeared to him an indirect demand of his share in the paternal inheritance, which the eldest brother had long regarded as his undisputed possession. That Vanambon, for love, should declare himself willing to renounce a station of such immense importance in Spain, seemed to him a crime against nature. Then to give up the vast advantages which might have been procured for the whole house of Belanzon, if one of these should have been clothed with the highest dignities of the church, and perhaps might finally have obtained even a cardinal's hat. Vanambon's personal advantages and connections opened the most dazzling prospects, in these respects, for him; and were all those hopes, amounting almost to certainty, to be destroyed in a moment?

splendor was worthy of compassion. Yolande, at length, saw herself constrained to give Madame Von Tournon information of the sad change in affairs, which had taken place in Eglantine's situation. This task was performed with scalding tears; for she too well knew the terrible storm it would raise in the breast of this lady, jealous of all that concerned the rights and honors of her house. It happened as she expected; the answer to her letter was a merciless epistle, in which every word wounded like the stab of a dagger. Lastly, the declaration was added, that Madame Von Tournon would take Eglantine under her own protection. Accordingly, there soon arrived in Arras a confidential attendant, accompanied by a stately train, to tear Eglantine from the arms of her sister, and carry her to her mother in Paris. The commands of Madame Von Tournon were too strict to allow the sisters to delay their separation, and Vanambon was too closely watched by his brother, to afford Eglantine the poor consolation of an interview before they were separated "Tell him that I may die, but I can never forget him," said Eglantine, as leaning on the arm of her disconsolate sister she descended the castle stairs. "Yet wherefore; will he not find in his own heart all that I think and feel? With us, life is love, and as long as I breathe I am his." By the stately train which was to carry Eglantine, stood La Borssiere beneath, in the court of the castle. He did not belong at that time to the queen of Navarre's court, but to the not inconsiderable train of nobles, that sought in the house of the Spanish governor to fit themselves for the service of great lords. His station had occasioned him to be frequently near Eglantine, and his silent modesty obtained him the good fortune to be noticed by both the sisters; they were accustomed by degrees to treat him with as much distinction as they could, without infringing the strict rules of etiquette, to which all must conform. And in this the Marquis Von Vanambon followed their example. In the few last troubled days, La Borssiere became, in a measure, the silent confidant of the lovers, and felt himself happy to be allowed to render Eglantine many services, for which she was so much the more thankful, as he appeared to set so little value on them.

of the procession that accompanied the lady, disappeared from his eyes. Eglantine's heart beat beneath the little packet with lightened and almost joyful sensations; she seized the first minute she was unobserved to open it, and found therein what she had secretly hoped, a written farewell from her beloved, with the warmest expressions of love, and a miniature picture, which was a striking resemblance. The last she placed next her heart, and whenever she was alone, drew it out, and spoke to it as if it was her lover himself. She had always something to say to it; her joys and pains were confided to this dear picture, and the evening of the day in which the queen had shown herself so gracious towards her, in the loneliness of her chamber, she indulged in this pleasing illusion until late at night. She had much to say to this dear picture; she thanked it for the resolution Vanambon had taken to renounce the vows which must have placed an eternal division between them; she must relate to it the favor which the queen had shown towards her that day, and ask it, whether she must follow the dictates of her heart, and seek to gain this powerful protectress for their love. Never was Eglantine richer in hope than now; the queen had commanded her to be of good courage, and at her age it was very natural to forget entirely the admonitions and stern commands of her mother. Was not her lover free and under the protection of a powerful prince? By Belanzon himself. He could scarcely be recalled.

Whilst Eglantine indulged her tender heart in the innocent illusions of love, the queen and her friend, occupied by totally different cares and plans, sat up until after midnight. Margaret of Navarre, the most beautiful woman of her age, endowed by nature with all the most precious gifts of mind as well as body, belonged, notwithstanding her high rank, to the most unfortunate of her sex; for all the silent joys of the heart, all the quiet pleasures of the friendly domestic circle, which the queen requires for the happiness of life as well as the peasant, were forever denied her. Since her marriage with Henry of Navarre, and the wild terror of St. Bartholomew's night, she had learned also to fear both her mother and brother. Her husband "Permit me to serve our young lady for the last time," | had lately been compelled to fly privately from Paris, said La Borssiere, with an agitated voice to the master to escape the danger of assassination from his new relaof the horse of Madame Von Tournon, as seeing the tions. The bloody war of the citizens which he had ladies descend, he approached to help Eglantine on kindled in the heart of France against his persecutor, the saddle. The master of the horse courteously with- was quieted by a short truce, through the cunning drew, and Eglantine, with La Borssiere's assistance, mediation of the queen's mother, Catherine de Medicis ; mounted on the richly covered riding cushions. He yet now the most formidable preparations were making was pale, and trembled perceptibly, as her small foot for a campaign against Henry of Navarre. His wife accidentally touched his hand, and her eyes heavy with felt the impropriety of her residence, during these pretears looked sorrowfully down on this faithful one. parations among the deadly enemies of her husband; She tried to smile; she endeavored to say one or two in vain perceiving their ill concealed suspicion towards friendly words to him at parting, but her voice refused her, did she repeatedly entreat to be permitted to join utterance, and her small mouth was painfully closed him. Her mother and brother denied this request with by tears. La Borssiere was silent likewise; he reach-inexorable severity. All these things the queen comed her the bridle, and while he appeared to be adjusting plained of to her confidential friend, and the tears which it, he let a small packet fall in her hand, which he in the day she had restrained with difficulty, flowed had hitherto concealed. Like the sun when it breaks unceasingly in the silence of the night. The queen through dark clouds of rain, a beam of joy lighted up and her friend both perceived that none but an entirely the sad eyes of Eglantine; La Borssiere perceived it neutral residence could be desirable for her, where she plainly, but it was impossible for him to sympathize in could not be suspected by either of the hostile parties of her joy. With tottering steps he withdrew, and be- favoring the other, both of which had alike claims to came pale as one mortally wounded, when the last trace her allegiance. But to every plan that was started,

and its beneficent beams. To each of these pictures was added, for the sportive interpretation of the queen, some Spanish or Italian verses. The somewhat less splendid litter of the Princess Von La Roche sur Yon, followed that of the queen; in this Madame Von Tournon was placed, as a distinction due to the head-governess of the queen.

there appeared to be insuperable obstacles. At length, | embroidered in silk among the gilded ornaments, and after many vain propositions for extrication from this the glass paintings on the windows contained forty dilemma, the princess suggested to the queen a journey emblematical pictures, relating to the effect of the sun to Spa, to which she herself was inclined. Luckily, the queen suffered sometimes from an eruption on the arm, called the rose, and it was resolved that this circumstance should serve as a pretext for a journey to this watering place. On the following morning, Margaret found less difficulty in obtaining permission for this journey from the queen-mother, than she had expected; and Charles the Ninth was also willing to Ten ladies on horseback, of whom Eglantine was agree to any measure, provided his sister would not one, followed this litter, in the most costly decorations, unite herself to her husband, whom he regarded as his suitable to the gay time of youth. The waving of most deadly enemy. He gave orders that every thing plumes, the variously colored cloaks of silk and velvet, should be prepared for the journey of the young queen, the rich embroidery, the dazzling ornaments of their and sent a courier to the Stadtholder at Flanders, to white horses, made a spectacle as splendid as it was obtain the necessary passports for a journey through beautiful. It was like the youthful procession of the part of this country, and sought himself to hasten by holy Princess Ursula, represented to us by Wilhelm's every possible means the day of her departure. New masterly hand, as an altar picture, at the Cathedral life, new animation beamed from Margaret's beautiful zu Köln. In six carriages, following these, places eyes, during the few remaining days of her stay in were assigned to the other ladies belonging to the queen's Paris; yet it was not her removal from this city, where suite. A cardinal, a bishop, several lords of the first she led so dreary a life, which gave her so much joy, rank, and a crowd of young men who belonged to the as certain political reasons that belong not to this simple noblesse, likewise accompanied the royal traveller; also, story, which made a short stay in Flanders highly de-a numerous crowd of servants, of mules and baggagesirable. But at the same time she was not thereby led waggons, laden with things of every description. All to forget her young favorite. "I have spoken to your these united, presented such a spectacle of beauty, of mother, my dear," whispered she to Eglantine, at the splendor and animated life, as necessarily to attract the first opportunity. "I know all that oppresses your young admiration of all who met them on the road. The heart. At least you shall not mope out the time of our press of the numerous spectators, collected in the court, absence in a cloister. I have chosen you for one of the at first caused the litter of the queen to move but ladies of the court, who are to accompany me to Flan- slowly; the procession was delayed, and Eglantine reders and Spa, and hope I have thereby merited your mained for a considerable time, reining in her steed, by thanks." Transported with rapture, Eglantine covered the side of her travelling companions. Her heart beat the friendly extended hand of the queen with kisses with glad impatience; in vain she looked around for and tears; even the mild admonitions of her royal mis-some near her who could participate in her feelings; in tress availed not to restore her to recollection, for the queen, by the single word Flanders, had opened to her a paradise of hope, of which Margaret herself was not aware; for Madame Von Tournon and herself were both ignorant that Vanambon's present residence was in Flanders. Eglantine wandered about now like one in a dream; the harsh reproofs of her mother passed by unnoticed; a hundred times a day she secretly drew out the dear picture to relate her hopes to it; she lived only in this, and if every thing around her had gone to ruin, she would scarcely have remarked it while the road to Flanders lay open. The journey, so anxiously wished for by all parties, was now to begin, and the travelling suite of queen Margaret was arranged in the court of the Louvre, with a splendor which exceeded every thing that is practised in the present day, and was in nothing surpassed by the preparations which our present grandees make for their journies, except in convenience and swiftness. Yet a princess of our age could scarcely prevail on herself to submit to a lonely confinement in a litter, drawn by mules, even were this litter as much a wonder of pomp and splendor as that of queen Margaret.

The golden pillars-the magnificently painted win dow glasses-the crimson velvet hangings richly embroidered with heavy gold fringes, gave the litter the appearance of a small chapel, in which the queen sat enthroned like the image of a saint. A variety of gallant devices, according to the taste of the age, were

all Paris, the queen was the only friendly being she knew, and her she honored as a guardian angel. She remembered not poor La Borssiere at this moment, though he was near her. She started with pleasure as he rode towards her, and she discovered that he also was one in the train of their common mistress. "We are going to Flanders," she whispered to him; a heaven of rapture was expressed in her eyes, and in the soft, trembling music of her voice. "You are fortunate, Mademoiselle, and I likewise,” replied La Borssiere, and quickly withdrew behind Eglantine, as the train was now in motion. It was some days before the queen, in this tedious mode of travelling, quitted the French soil. In every town where she stopped on her way, she was received with reverence by the people; every day of her journey was, from morning until evening, an universal feast; young and old met them on their way rejoicing; and whoever was so happy as to get a glimpse of her face, though she deigned to look on them only for a second, esteemed themselves fortunate for the rest of their life. Her wonderful beauty filled every one with rapture; they honored her in her pomp as a being of superior order. The fair riders also, who sometimes took off their inconvenient masks to enjoy the fresh air, often heard praises of their grace and beauty, which always sound agreeably, even from the lips of the lowest. All were in a joyful dream, except Eglantine, who found the journey much too long. Like the lark, which flew over their heads to the blue heaven rejoicing, she could VOL. III.-24

longer able to bear that she should always find herself deceived in her expectations. He approached respectfully towards her, and said gently, "The Stadtholder, Don John, will meet us shortly, with his court, at Namur. He has inquired to-day what time the queen intends going to this city, as he wishes to receive her in the most splendid manner," he added, in a tone of as much indifference as he could assume.

have flown over mountain and valley--and almost | looked so wistfully towards it, that La Borssiere was no hourly she beckoned La Borssiere, who always remained as near her as he could, to approach, only to ask him whether they were still far from the borders of Flanders. At length they reached this first object of her desire. In the full splendor of summer beauty, the rich plains of Flanders, apparently immeasurable in extent, spread | themselves before the eyes of the travellers. They passed through neat, well-built villages, such as they had never been accustomed to see in France. They passed daily through flourishing cities, whose splendid churches, and | other public buildings, excited their admiration; and from whose lofty steeples, decked richly with Gothic ornaments, as they heard, softened by distance, the chimes of the musical clock, still a novelty in Flanders, and quite unknown in France, they felt as if saluted from on high by the voice of an angel. The spacious market places, adorned with fountains, always swarmed with richly dressed ladies and gentlemen, who, with good humored curiosity, pressed to see them. The tall, strong figures of these people, their costumes differing entirely from the French,--did not prevent their making an agreeable impression on the travellers. The rosy faces of the maidens, smiling bashfully through their flaxen locks, were remarked with courtesy by the lords of Margaret's train; and all eyes rested with pleasure on the expression of true-heartedness exhibited in the general appearance of the Flemish. In all the cities of Flanders through which their road led, the queen was cordially and joyfully received, not as a foreign princess, but as one born in their own land. Since the execution of Count Egmont, and so many of their nobles, almost all the Flemish abhorred the Spanish yoke, and wished to acknowledge a French prince as their regent. Margaret, who was acquainted with these secret plans, to gain still more on these people, received all the favor that was shown her with genuine and enchanting cordiality. She refused not to attend a single feast that was prepared for her; wherever she was invited, she staid willingly, which so prolonged her journey in this country, that it took nearly as many days as it now does hours to go from Paris to Spa.

"And when-how far is it now to Namur?" asked Eglantine, blushing. "We may reach it in the morning, if the queen does not stay two long at Mons," answered La Borssiere with difficulty, and immediately withdrew again. Alas! Queen Margaret did not participate in Eglantine's impatience. She not only stayed the whole of the next day and the following night at Valenciennes, and went on the next day to Mons, where she suffered herself to be persuaded by the governor of this town to prolong her stay in this place, for eight whole days. This governor, a near relation of the murdered Count Egmont, was one of the bitterest enemies of the Spanish dominion: he stood in high estimation in Flanders, and it was of the utmost importance to the queen to gain him over. As it frequently happens, pleasure served as a veil for policy. Banquets, music and dancing, succeeded each other in uninterrupted succession during the day and half the night. None remembered themselves, much less thought of observing others. Eglantine suffered deadly grief at this delay. So near the summit of her wishes, her only consolation was, that she was less exposed during the journey than at home to the severe censure and observation of her mother. She was ready to die of impatience, as day after day passed away, without any mention of the wishedfor journey. La Borssiere alone appeared to feel as she did, and he became every day graver and more absorbed. All but these two seemed to breathe only frolic and gaiety. As time must bring to an end all that grieves and all that rejoices us, Eglantine at length saw the last evening of the eighth day, which had appeared so interminable, approach. Scarcely had the morning dawned, which was to lead to the long wished. for hour of meeting, than Eglantine equipped herself for the journey, and began to count the minutes. But the poor girl was greatly mistaken in her calculations : she had still to suffer many hours of torturing impatience; for there appeared to be no end to the adieus from all sides. The sun was high in the heavens before the queen took her place in the litter; and then the Flemish ladies thronged around her to admire its surpassing magnificence. Margaret, with matchless courtesy, employed a good half hour in reading to these ladies the devices embroidered within, and to explain the

No one, at least of the younger part of the queen's train, was dissatisfied with these delays--it was the least of their desires to arrive at Spa. In those days, this place was nothing but a small, dirty village, consisting of a few huts, having no similarity with the place where all the pleasures of the great world are to be found, such as it now is. Eglantine was the only person that found no pleasure in this delay--and whenever they came within the vicinity of a town, she would raise herself, as much as she could, from the saddle, to look at the procession, which came in solemn pomp from the gates of every city to welcome the approach-emblematical paintings. Eglantine could not forbear, ing queen. Her penetrating look, which darted through the rows of richly dressed lords and ladies, seeking the one loved hoped-for form, was always dejectedly withdrawn, and she could scarcely again raise her sad eyes from the earth, when he whom she hoped to find was not among them. La Borssiere alone remarked this. His brow daily became more clouded, and deep sighs heaved his breast. At length they reached the gates of Valenciennes--and a new procession, more splendid, more numerous than any of the preceding, came towards them. Beaming with renewed hope, Eglantine's eyes

beneath the mask which all travelling ladies wore, shedding bitter tears. Her impatience forced them from her eyes, and it reached its highest pitch as the procession of travellers moved forth at a snail's pace. The Flemish nobles, that nothing might be wanting, accompanied Queen Margaret a great way from the city of Mons; and Margaret, to recompense their courtesy, kept up a lively conversation with them during the whole way. This went on until they saw at a distance the dust raised by the procession of the Stadtholder, Don John, approaching for the reception of the queen. The Flem

ish nobles bid a hasty adieu, that they might not meet | She hoped Vanambon would find a no less powerful inDon John, doubly hated as a Spaniard and brother of tercessor with her mother, in his prince, than she was Philip II. Eglantine, in the disorder of the procession, happened to get near her mistress, who perceived her young favorite. "Ride next my litter," said she kindly; "and your companions may also surround me while we go to meet yonder proud Spaniard. I have learnt who is coming in Don John's train, and would be eye-witness to a certain interview," she added with a smile. Eglantine could only bow thankfully at this command: her soul was in her eyes; and she sought to discover at a distance the beloved form. The procession came closer and closer; a favorable gust of wind divided the cloud of dust that concealed him. "Which is he?" whispered the queen to Eglantine; "that handsome young man immediately behind the prince, whose tall, blue and white plumes, wave above all the rest?" Eglantine was silent; in her extreme agitation she did not hear the queen's question; but Margaret saw plainly, by her whole appearance, that she had not been mistaken in her conjecture. Don John and all his train dismounted from their horses, as they came near the royal traveller. The Marquis Von Vanambon stood only a few paces from Eglantine, whilst Don John and the queen exchanged their courteous salutations; but, alas! he appeared not to perceive it. His looks wandered from Margaret to her ladies, and seemed to pass heedlessly over Eglantine. Mixed emotions of pain and pleasure almost overcame the poor girl; darkness overspread her eyes; she trembled, and could scarcely keep her seat on the saddle.

"He knows me not!-he knows me not!" sighed she to herself, as the procession set forth again: her heart seemed to be pressed together, as with the fangs of a tiger, by heavy anticipations which she could not throw off. "Indeed he could not have expected me here, and this ugly black velvet mask, that I dared not take off, concealed me likewise," said she to herself, for her comfort. "I, indeed, should have known him under the most impenetrable disguise; I think that, even in the darkest night, I should have felt his presence." It was growing late; a moonless night overtook the travellers before they reached Namur, which, according to Don John's direction, shone with thousands of lamps, bright as mid-day. All the hopes of Eglantine rested on the feast, which she expected to find, prepared as usual, in | the lodgings of the queen. "What a joyful surprise it will be," said she, “when he meets me unexpectedly in the dazzling hall!" She comforted herself with this, as often as the blue and white plumes passed before her in the bright streets, which happened tolerably often. Yet even this expectation was not fulfilled. Don John left the queen, as soon as he had led her into the apartments, prepared for her reception with more than princely pomp, rightly judging that, after so wearisome a day, repose would be more agreeable than any thing else to the queen. For the first time Eglantine regretted the delay of the festivities, which she had lately attended with so much chagrin. All retired early to rest, and Eglantine did not long remain behind them. In the loneliness of her apartment, she drew out her dear little picture, and overwhelmed her lover with reproaches for not having known her. She fell asleep amidst pleasing delusions and serious plans for the morning, which she considered as decisive of her future destiny.

certain of having found in her queen. She thought with uneasiness on the severe vigilance of her mother, and the interruption it would probably occasion in her pleasure the following day. At length, commending her lover and herself to the protection of the Holy Virgin, whose fair, calm, smiling image, adorned a small altar in her apartment, lovely and innocent as a child, over whose couch angels keep their watch, she fell asleep amidst her prayers, and no frightful vision in the darkness of night came to fill her with dismal forebodings of sorrow. Eglantine awoke early: she greeted the first blush of morning with the joyful timidity of a young bride, when the day first dawns which is to unite her forever to her lover. Then she hastened to dress herself with more than usual care to accompany the queen to church, where Don John had directed high mass. "There, in this holy place," thought Eglantine, blushing, "we shall first meet ;" and she sunk with humility before the image on the altar of the Holy Virgin. "Ave Maria," prayed she, "mother of grace and love, forgive, O gracious being, if earthly joy should move our hearts too powerfully, and draw the thoughts, which should be consecrated to heaven, down to earth. Mary, I bow to thee with child-like humility, and pray thee to take my lover and myself under thy protection: let our love not be counted to us for sin, if we cannot entirely banish it from our thoughts in the temple of the Most High; ora, ora, pro nobis," prayed she with the deepest fervor, her eyes raised to heaven, and a crown of roses in her hand.

"So I find you at last, as you should be found," said Madame Von Tournon, who had entered at this moment to carry her daughter to the queen. "Invoke the Holy Virgin to protect thee from error; for I understand that you will meet the Marquis Von Vanambon in the train of Don John. I come chiefly to warn you, not to let this surprising meeting awaken any vain hopes; believe, firmly, that it cannot alter your situation in any respect; it will only be embarrassing for the moment. Remember always that I watch your proceedings, and will punish any forgetfulness on your part according to its desserts. Be on your guard; I warn you for the last time; and now follow me to the queen."

As soon as the queen appeared in church, the rushing sound of horns and violins was heard through the high vault of the consecrated temple, which shone throughout with that earthly pomp and splendor, which so strongly characterized that age. The queen shone like the sun; a firmament of stars, composed of pearls and diamonds, surrounded her angelic face; a rich robe, wove of silver and orange-colored silk, with long hanging sleeves, ornamented with innumerable spangles, ribbons and little tassels, showed to the utmost advantage her lofty stature. Her shining white shoulders were admired by all beholders. The queen, in proud consciousness of beauty, was the first who introduced in France this low manner of dressing. All ladies, who made any pretensions to taste and elegance, hastened to follow her example. Eglantine alone could not think of following a fashion she thought immodest. She had been brought up from a child, in the house of her sister, in the strict Spanish customs, and always in dress