vestments laid out for her use.

Caroline shrank back with a faint, sick feeling. Oh, how everything had
changed since she was so fascinated by a scene like that! Her delicate,
proud nature revolted from the splendid confusion. From her very heart
she loathed the sumptuous garments with which Olympia had hoped to tempt
her.

"Is there no hope?" she cried, desperately. "I would rather suffer
anything than undertake this part!"

"Hope? Yes, there is everything to hope. The house is crowded already.
There never was so fine an opening. Come, make ready!"

"Not if I have the power to resist."

She spoke in a low but resolute voice, which frightened Olympia, who
stood gazing at the pale young face turned upon her with a frown of
terrible anger gathering on her forehead.

"Caroline, you cannot resist. My word is given, the contract signed, my
honor pledged. Would you disgrace me forever?"

"Your honor pledged, and I belong to you," said the girl. "I see, I
see--there is no escaping! It is my miserable destiny!"

Caroline took off the cloak in which she was wrapped, flung down all her
magnificent hair, and seated herself before one of the mirrors.

"Do with me as you please," she said, turning a weary glance upon the
mirror. "It may be my death, but you _will_ have it so."

The next moment that unhappy girl found herself in the hands of a clever
French maid, who fairly revelled in her task, as she shook out that rich
mass of hair, and held it up for the light to shine through. But
Caroline took no heed. The toilet only reminded her of that most hideous
one when Marie Antoinette was prepared for the scaffold. For the moment
she almost wished it possible to change places with that unhappy woman.

But the French waiting-maid went on with her work, while Olympia stood
by, directing her.

Not till she felt a soft touch on her cheek did the girl rebel. Then she
started up, and, pushing the maid away, rubbed her cheek with a
handkerchief so resolutely that the maid clapped her hands, declaring
that it was enough--no roses could be more lovely.

Then she fell to her task again, muttering to herself:

"Oh, it will come in time! Youth is so satisfied with itself. But it all
ends in that."

Here the maid nodded toward a tiny jar of rouge, as if to encourage it,
and went on with her task.

"Now look at yourself!" said Olympia, tossing aside some garment that
had been flung over the swinging-glass. "What do you think of