l with my farewell kiss; and then--to the ball!"

She entered the next chamber, and stood at her child's bed. What a
strange sight! This woman, in a fantastic, luxuriant costume, bending
over the cot of the little girl, with such tender, pious looks, with
folded hands, and soft, murmuring lips, uttering a prayer or holy wish!

"How beautiful she is!" murmured Louise, not dreaming that her own
beauty at this moment beamed with touching splendor--that mother love
had changed the alluring coquette into an adorable saint--"how beautiful
she is!"

The gay, ringing laughter of her daughter interrupted her; the child
opened her large black eyes, and looked amused.

"You naughty child, you were not asleep," said Louise.

"No, mamma, I was not asleep; I was playing comedy."

"Ah! and who taught you to play comedy, you silly child?" said Louise,
tenderly.

The child looked earnestly before her for a few moments as children are
wont to do when a question surprises them.

"I believe, mamma," she said, slowly--"I believe I learned it from you."

"From me, Camilla? When have you seen me act?"

"Oh, very often," she cried, laughing. "Just a few days ago, mamma,
don't you remember when we were laughing and talking so merrily
together, Prince Henry was announced, and you sent me into the next
room, but the door was open, and I saw very well that you made a sad
face, and I heard the prince ask you how you were, and you answered, 'I
am sick, your highness, and how could it be otherwise, as I am always
sad or weeping?' Now, mother, was not that acting?"

Louise did not answer. Breathing heavily, she laid her hand upon her
heart, for she felt a strange sorrow and indescribable fear.

Camilla continued, "Oh! and I saw how tenderly the prince looked at you;
how he kissed you, and said you were as lovely as an angel. Oh, mamma, I
too shall be beautiful, and beloved by a prince!"

"To be beautiful, darling, you must be good and virtuous," said the fair
odalisque, earnestly.

Little Camilla arose in her bed; the white gown fell from her shoulders
and exposed her soft childish form, her brown ringlets curled down her
neck and lost themselves in her lace-covered dress.

The chandelier that hung from the ceiling lighted her lovely face, and
made the gold and silver embroidered robes and jewels of her mother
sparkle brilliantly.

At this moment, as with folded arms she glanced up at her mother, she
looked like an angel, but she ha