the way to treat her father? May I never see light, if
I won't have him 'out,' if he was a Prince of the Blood! Oh, the
ungrateful girl! Leave off crying there, and tell me all about it. Read
me her own letter, I say----if God will give me patience to listen to
it."

With a bosom almost bursting, and a lip quivering with emotion, Ellen
began,--

"La Rocca, Lake of Como.

Dearest Father and Sister,--Oh that I could throw myself at
your feet, and poor out all that my heart is full of----
tell you what I feel and hope and fear, and ask your counsel
and your blessing. I know not if the last few days be real;
my poor head is turning amid the scenes I 've passed through
and the emotions I have felt. I had no friend but Lady
Hester--no adviser but she! She has been a mother to me--not
as you would have been, Nelly--not to warn and restrain,
when perhaps both were needed, but to encourage and feed my
hopes. I yielded to her counsels--"

"I don't understand one word of this," cried Dalton, impatiently. "What
did she do?"

Nelly's eyes ran rapidly over the lines without speaking; and then, in a
low but distinct voice, she said,---

"It is as I said; she is betrothed to this great Russian Prince."

"That fellow, they say, owns half Moscow. Fogles told us about him."

"Prince Midchekoff."

"That's the name. Well, it's a fine match,--there's no denying it.
How did it come about? and why didn't he come here and ask my consent?
What's the meaning of doing it all in this hurry?"

"The marriage can only take place in St. Petersburg, and in presence of
the Emperor; and she is merely betrothed, at present, to enable her to
accompany the lady, Madame de Heidendorf, to Russia, where the Prince
will follow in a few weeks."

"That bangs Banagher! Why could n't they get a priest where they are? Be
gorra! they 've scruples about everything but _me!_ _I_ 'm the only one
that's not considered! What the devil is the Emperor to her,--sure _he_
is n't her father? Well, well, go on."

"She would seem to have yielded to persuasion," said Nelly, feelingly.
"The Prince, with all his greatness, appears not to have won her heart.
See how she dwells upon his immense wealth and the splendor of his
position."

"Let us hear about that," cried Dalton, eagerly.

"My heart is nigh to bursting when I think of you and
dearest Nelly living with me, in all the enjoyment that