en, there's a Providence
proved. But, in the mean time, mamma, what has become of my beauty?
It is gone--it is gone--and now for humility and repentance--now for
sackcloth and ashes. I am now no longer beautiful!--so off, off go the
trappings of vanity!"

She put her hands up to her bosom, and began to tear down her dress with
a violence so powerful, that it took William and Maria's strength to
prevent her. She became furious. "Let me go," she exclaimed, "let me go;
I am bound to a curse; but Charles, Charles--don't you see he will
be poisoned: he will kiss her lips and be poisoned; poisoned lips for
Charles, and I too see it!--and mine here with balm upon them, and peace
and love! My boy's lost, and I am lost, and the world has destroyed us."

She wrought with incredible strength, and attempted still, while
speaking, to tear her garments off; put finding herself overpowered, she
at length sat down and passed from this state of violence into a mood
so helplessly calm, that the family, now in an outcry of grief, with the
exception of her father who appeared cool, felt their very hearts shiver
at the vacant serenity of her countenance.

Her mother went over, and, seizing her husband firmly by the arms,
pulled him towards her, and with an ashy face and parched lips,
exclaimed, "There, Charles--all is now over--our child is an idiot!"

"Oh do not blame me," said the brokenhearted father; "I did it for the
best. Had I thought--had I thought--but I will speak to her, for I think
my voice will reach her heart--you know how she loved me."

"Jane," said he, approaching her, "Jane, my dearest life, will you not
speak to your papa?"

She became uneasy again, and, much to their relief, broke silence.

"I am not," said she, calmly; "it is gone; I was once though--indeed,
indeed I was; and it was said so; I was called the Fawn of--of--but it
seems beauty passes like the flower of the field."

"Darling, speak to me, to your papa."

"I believe I am old now; an old woman, I suppose. My hair is gray, and
I am wrinkled; that's the reason why they scorn me; well I was once both
young and beautiful; but that is past. Charles," said she, catching
her father's hand and looking into it, "you are old, too, I believe.
Why--why--why, how is this? Your hair is long and white. Oh, what
a change since I knew you last. White hair! long, white, venerable,
hair--that's old age--

"Pity old age within whose silver hairs
Honor and r