She stood before the glass and surveyed once more her appearance;
then acknowledged with a pleased smile that she was beautiful enough
to fascinate all men, to arouse in all hearts a painful longing.
"But I shall love no one but the prince," she said, "and when my
power over him is sufficient to induce him to marry me, I shall
reward him by my faith, and entire submission to his wishes. Oh! I
shall he a virtuous wife, a true and faithful mother; and my lovely
little Camilla shall find in her mother a good and noble example. I
shall promise this to my angel 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.
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