toilet,
adorned with diamonds, and wearing on her high, clear brow a sparkling
diadem, proud and conscious of her beauty and her triumphs; or now,
in this artistic costume, in which she was less imposing, but more
enchanting and more gracious.

Wilhelmina wore an under-skirt of white satin, a red tunic, gayly
embroidered and festooned with white roses; a white satin bodice,
embroidered with silver, defined her full but pliant form, and displayed
her luxurious bust in its rare proportions; a bouquet of red roses
was fastened upon each shoulder, and held the silvery veil which half
concealed the lovely throat and bosom. The long, black, unpowdered hair
fell in graceful ringlets about her fair neck, and formed a dark frame
for the beautiful face, glowing with health, youth, and intellect. In
her hair she wore a wreath of red and white roses, and a bouquet of the
same in her bosom.

She was, indeed, dazzling in her beauty, and was, perhaps, conscious of
her power; her eyes sparkled, and a ravishing smile played upon her lips
as she looked up at the prince, who stood dumb and embarrassed before
her, and could find no words to express his admiration.

"If it is agreeable to your highness, let us join your company," said
the princess, at last, anxious to put an end to this interview. She
extended her hand coolly to her husband; he grasped it, and held it
fast, but still stood silently looking upon her.

"Madame," said he, at last, in low and hesitating tones--"madame, I have
a request to make of you."

"Command me, my husband," said she, coldly; "what shall I do?"

"I do not wish to command, but to entreat," said the prince.

"Well, then, Prince Henry, speak your request."

The prince gave the bouquet of white camelias to his wife, and said, in
a faltering, pleading voice, "I beg you to accept this bouquet from me,
and to wear it to-day in your bosom, although it is not your shepherd
who offers it!"

"No, not my shepherd, but my husband," said the princess, removing
angrily the bouquet of roses from her bodice. "I must, of course, wear
the flowers he gives me."

Without giving one glance at the flowers, she fastened them in her
bosom.

"If you will not look upon them for my sake," said the prince,
earnestly, "I pray you, give them one glance for the flowers' sake. You
will at least feel assured that no other shepherdess is adorned with
such a bouquet."

"Yes," said Wilhelmina, "these are not white roses; indee