yesterday? And he loves his child most tenderly, as only a father
can."

"Oh, there is another reason for that," said the nurse. "He has just
passed his first stupid three months, and he begins to hear and see
what passes around him, and it was the first man's face that he had
seen. But only look, miss, what a beautiful little dog is coming up
the path." It was indeed a lovely greyhound, of the small Italian
race, which came bounding joyfully toward them, and as he saw the
woman barked loudly.

"Be quiet, Alkmene, be quiet!" cried a loud, commanding voice.

"Oh, Heaven! it is the king!" whispered the young lady, turning
pale, and, as if stunned, retreated a few steps.

"Yes, it is really the king," cried the nurse, "and he is coming
directly from the grass-plot here."

"Let us go as quickly as possible, Louisa. Come, come," and she
hastily threw her mantle around her, drawing the hood over her curly
head. She had only proceeded a few steps, when a loud voice bade her
to remain--to stand still. She stood as if rooted to the spot,
leaning upon her nurse for support; her knees sank under her, and it
seemed as if the whole world turned around with her. After the first
tumult of anxiety and fear, succeeded an insolent determination,
and, forcing herself to calmness, she said: "It is the turning-point
of my life; the next few minutes will either crush me or assure my
future; let me struggle for the future, then. I will face him who
approaches me as my judge." Forcing herself to composure, slowly and