nt of solemn reflection, become
convinced that, when toiling in the great workshop of the world, they
have been engaged, in unconscious fraternity, in building up the same
fabric!

The priests were in the midst of their solemn chant--a deathlike silence
and complete immovability prevailed among the mourners and the
spectators--and the wind was moaning beneath the vaulted roofs, awaking
those strange and tomb-like sounds which are only heard in large
churches,--when light but rushing footsteps were heard on the marble
pavement; and in another minute a female, not clothed in a mourning
garb, but splendidly as for a festival, precipitated herself toward the
bier.

There her strength suddenly seemed to be exhausted; and, with a piercing
scream, she sank senseless on the cold stones.

The chant of the priest was immediately stilled; and Francisco hurrying
forward, raised the female in his arms, while Dr. Duras asked for water
to sprinkle on her countenance.

Over her head the stranger wore a white veil of rich material, which was
fastened above her brow by a single diamond of unusual size and
brilliant luster. When the veil was drawn aside, shining auburn tresses
were seen depending in wanton luxuriance over shoulders of alabaster
whiteness: a beautiful but deadly pale countenance was revealed; and a
splendid purple velvet dress delineated the soft and flowing outlines of
a form modeled to the most perfect symmetry.

She seemed to be about twenty years of age,--in the full splendor of
loveliness, and endowed with charms which presented to the gaze of those
around a very incarnation of the ideal beauty which forms the theme of
raptured poets.

And now, as the vacillating and uncertain light of the wax-candles
beamed upon her, as she lay senseless in the arms of the Count Riverola,
her pale, placid face appeared that of a classic marble statue; but
nothing could surpass the splendid effects which the funeral tapers
produced on the rich redundancy of her hair, which seemed dark where the
shadows rested on it, but glittering as with a bright glory where the
luster played on its shining masses.

In spite of the solemnity of the place and the occasion, the mourners
were struck by the dazzling beauty of that young female, who had thus
appeared so strangely amongst them; but respect still retained at a
distance those persons who were merely present from curiosity to witness
the obsequies of one of the proudest nobles of Flo