satisfied the warm-hearted girl that Thekla may be considered as doing well; and having allowed her to creep softly to the bedside, and, with tears in her eyes, to imprint a gentle kiss on the marble forehead of her sister, I despatched her with one of the female attendants to convey the favourable report to her father, who was still in his private apartments. I was thus left at liberty to have a perfectly confidential conversation with Miss Temple-for time was precious, as the very next day was that appointed for the ceremony of betrothal--after which, Thekla was to take her departure, as had been originally arranged. There was no chance or opportunity of any communication with Conrad, who had already taken a private leave of me the preceding day, as he was to start directly after the betrothal, in advance of the royal cortège, to see all prepared for their reception at the frontier town, where Prince Peter was to meet them. I had, therefore, no hope of bestowing either caution or advice, except through the medium

of Miss Temple's tried and trusted friendship; and I proceeded to her private apartment, as soon as I could leave the Princess's bedsidenow sleeping undisturbedly-with a very sad feeling of doubt, how far I did right in requesting her counsel and assistance on so delicate and humiliating a subject as that which then occupied my thoughts. There is a singular quality in some minds, which enable them to receive the most unexpected intelligence with as much sang froid as if it had been partially shadowed out to them beforehand. So it was with Miss Temple. She had never seen nor suspected any disproportionate regard towards Thekla on the part of my son; yet she heard me speak of it without astonishment, though with unfeigned sorrow, and with a sad prognostication of evil likely to arise from it. Not that she mistrusted either Thekla or Conrad-on the contrary, she poured balm into a mother's heart by saying that the mischief would not lie between

them, but in the too sure observation of their mutual feelings by others.

On my remarking that Prince Peter, I trusted, would, at least, put full confidence in his wife's high and virtuous principles, as she was certain to be free from an unworthy, and, as I was sure, undeserved jealousy, this worthy woman observed with an earnestness of manner peculiar to her"Ah, madam! you know the Spanish proverb -God made matrimony, but somebody else makes matches.""

I knew that poor Miss Temple had felt misgivings about this Russian alliance from the beginning, and the secret cause of uneasiness which I had just communicated to her was in no way calculated to remove them.

She promised to watch Conrad closely when they arrived in Russia, and to write to me frequently and fully on the subject nearest my heart-a confidence neither she nor I were ever likely to betray, was thus established between us.

Enfin vous voilà donc à votre époux liée,

Avec un long fil d'or—qui ne rompt qu' à la mort !

Chansons et Légendes de Valois.

On the brilliant morning of Wednesday, the

of June, 17, the bells of every church of X-- were heard to ring a merry peal, in announcement of a joyous event. Troops were seen moving in various directions, ultimately

taking their stations at different points between the palace and the cathedral. Every house along the Haupt Strasse was decorated with the national flag, or with festoons of summer flowers relieved by deep evergreens, freshly gathered from the forest.

A triumphal arch had been erected at the entrance of the Place d'Armes, bearing the inscription, n German letters :

TO THEKLA,

THE BELOVED DAUGHTER OF THE LAND,

GOD SEND LONG LIFE AND HAPPINESS.

Now a burst of military music proclaims the approach of the princely train; the trumpets themselves are drowned by the hearty acclamations of the people, as the lovely bride, still delicate from her late illness, and yet more beautiful from a slight tinge of maiden melancholy in her expression, moved slowly towards the church: where supported by her father, followed