compose a still further
class of female friendships. They are very frequent, and are
especially attractive, on account of the scenes of rank and splendor,
conspicuous romance and tragedy, amidst which they occur. Kadidasa,
in his "Sakoontahi," that exquisite picture of ancient Hindu life,
shows us the beautiful akoontaltl, constantly accompanied by her two
confidential friends, Priyamvada and Anastiya. In the biographies of
royal houses, it is a common occurrence to meet with an unhappy queen
who was so fortunate as to find refuge and consolation for the
sorrows inflicted on her by an unfaithful or cruel husband, in the
ever-ready sympathy of some attendant, some true and loving woman of
her court. In the annals of courts, the examples of jealousies and
quarrels, of confidants turning rivals, and of maids undermining and
ousting their mistresses, are also unhappily frequent. So, for
instance, Maintenon displaced her patroness, Montespan; so Anne of
Austria, after years of utter devotion, successively alienated her
self-forgetful friends, Madame de Chevreuse, Mademoiselle de la
Fayette, and the incomparable Mademoiselle de Hautefort; so did the
unhappy Marie de Medicis, after half a life-time of lavished
fondness, forsake her faithful Eleonora Galigaei, and turn against her
in the cruel selfishness of misfortune and danger.

Catherine Picard was the beloved companion of Blanche of Lancaster.
Her sister, Philippa Picard, was the favorite of Philippa, queen of
Edward the Third. She was so attached to her mistress, that she kept
her lover, the immortal Chaucer, waiting for her hand eight years,
until the death of the queen set her free. Catherine Douglas, maid of
honor to the Lady Jane Beaufort, wife of James the First of Scotland,
showed her love for her queen by a deed which history and song will
never forget to celebrate. When the assassins were forcing their way
into the royal chamber, Catherine thrust her beautiful arm into the
stanchion of the door, as a bolt, and held it there till it was
broken.

Mary Stuart was blessed with the society of four maids of honor,
lovely girls of rank, about her own age, named for her, and appointed
from childhood to be her companions. Their names were Mary Flemming,
Mary Seton, Mary Beton, and Mary Livingstone; and they were called
the Queen's Marys. Through her unhappy fortunes, imprisonments and
all, they remained with her, and ardently loved her, whatever her
errors may have bee