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WILD: MARGARET, | - 188
of velvet tapestry, was an old lady with a face of aristocratic
beauty set in snow-white hair. At alittle distance, pacing
up and down, were two young ladies, the younger of the
two with her arm round the waist of her companion, and
her beautiful young face turned up with that air-of pure —
.devotion. and affection which only exists in the heart of ©
one woman for another.
The old lady was the Princess Rivani, the mother of
Florence and Ferdinand; and the two girls were Margaret
and Florence. It had come to pass that Margaret was an
honored inmate of the Villa Capri.
The Princess Florence had fallen in love with Margaret’s
lovely face, and its sad, gentle smile, and still more with
her. sweet voice, and had taken a fancy that Margaret’s
presence in the villa was necessary to her existence; and
as princesses’ whims are born but to be gratified, Margaret
was here. .
The mother, who made a rule never to deny her darling
child any innocent and harmless desire, welcomed Mar-
garet with the gentle sweetness of a patrician, combined
with the frank candor of an old lady. oO
~._ tam very glad to see you, Miss Leslie,’ she had said.
You have won my daughter’s heart, and your presence
seems necessary to her happiness. I trust you will not let
her be a burden to you. Please consider the villa your
home while it seems good to you to remain with us, and I
hope that will be for a long period.” ;
. That.was all; but as the signora—as the elder princess
Was called—always said what she meant, and never more
than she meant, it was a good deal. She had scanned
Margaret's face when she had been presented to her, and
had listened to her voice, and was convinced that Mar-
garet was a lady, and a fit companion for the princess, and
she had said so in a sentence to her daughter. Os
“TI like your friend, Florence, and I can understand
the charm she exerts over you. It is a very lovely face,
cnr
“Is it n
ally.
“—But it is a very sad one. I
has had some great trouble, one of th
fone teir-marks upon the heart, as a fell
‘But you will not like her the less for that, mamma?”
Florence had said, and the signora had replied with a
sigh; Les :
‘‘No, rather the more, my dear,’ for the signora had
Suffered also in her life. a .
So the princess had her wish gratified, and Margaret
ot, mamma?” exclaimed Florence enthusiastic-
am afraid Miss Leslia
ose sorrows which
disease brands the
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