A fresh shock chilled the painter's blood, for at the same moment the
lady's voice was suddenly audible close to his ear, almost as deep as a
man's but not unmelodious, ordering the girls to draw back the curtain as
far as the painter should desire.

Now, he felt, the spell was broken; curiosity and eagerness took the
place of reverence for death. He quietly gave his orders for the
necessary arrangements, lent the women the help of his stronger arm, took
out his painting implements, and then requested the matron to unveil the
dead girl, that he might see from which side it would be best to take the
portrait. But then again he was near losing his composure, for the lady
raised her veil, and measured him with a glance as though he had asked
something strange and audacious indeed.

Never had he met so piercing a glance from any woman's eyes; and yet they
were red with weeping and full of tears. Bitter grief spoke in every
line of her still youthful features, and their stern, majestic beauty was
in keeping with the deep tones of her speech. Oh that he had been so
happy as to see this woman in the bloom of youthful loveliness! She did
not heed his admiring surprise; before acceding to his demand, her regal
form trembled from head to foot, and she sighed as she lifted the shroud
from her daughter's face. Then, with a groan, she dropped on her knees
by the couch and laid her cheek against that of the dead maiden. At last
she rose, and murmured to the painter that if he were successful in his
task her gratitude would be beyond expression.

"What more she said," Alexander went on, "I could but half understand,
for she wept all the time, and I could not collect my thoughts. It was
not till afterward that I learned from her waiting-woman--a Christian--
that she meant to tell me that the relations and wailing women were to