chord, sounding
together in sweetest harmony. Naturally, much of this easy and mutual
blending of character and disposition arose from Thelma's own gracious
and graceful submissiveness,--submissiveness which, far from humiliating
her, actually placed her (though she knew it not) on a throne of almost
royal power, before which Sir Philip was content to kneel--an ardent
worshipper of her womanly sweetness. Always without question or demur,
she obeyed his wishes implicitly,--though, as has been before mentioned,
she was at first a little overpowered and startled by the evidences of
his wealth, and did not quite know what to do with all the luxuries and
gifts he heaped upon her. Britta's worldly prognostications had come
true,--the simple gowns her mistress had worn at the Altenfjord were
soon discarded for more costly apparel,--though Sir Philip had an
affection for his wife's Norwegian costumes, and in his heart thought
they were as pretty, if not prettier, than the most perfect triumphs of
a Parisian _modiste_.

But in the social world, Fashion, the capricious deity, must be
followed, if not wholly, yet in part; and so Thelma's straight, plain
garments were laid carefully by as souvenirs of the old days, and were
replaced by toilettes of the most exquisite description,--some
simple,--some costly,--and it was difficult to say in which of them the
lovely wearer looked her best. She herself was indifferent in the
matter--she dressed to please Philip,--if he was satisfied, she was
happy--she sought nothing further. It was Britta whose merry eyes
sparkled with pride and admiration when she saw her "Froeken" arrayed in
gleaming silk or sweeping velvets, with the shine of rare jewels in her
rippling hair,--it was Britta who took care of all the dainty trifles
that gradually accumulated on Thelma's dressing table,--in fact, Britta
had become a very important personage in her own opinion. Dressed neatly
in black, with a coquettish muslin apron and cap becomingly frilled, she
was a very taking little maid, with her demure rosy face and rebellious
curls, though very different to the usual trained spy whose officious
ministrations are deemed so necessary by ladies of position, whose lofty
station in life precludes them from the luxury of brushing their own
hair. Britta's duties were slight--she invented most of them--yet she
was always busy sewing, dusting, packing, or polishing. She was a very
wide-awake little person, too,--no hin