o.
But you will judge for yourself, and it will distract your mind for a
little. You must think of a young girl something like yourself,
Natalushka; not so handsome as you are, but a little pretty, and with
many friends. Oh yes, many friends, for at that time the family were in
very brilliant society and had large estates: alas! the estates were
soon all lost in politics, and all that remained to the family was their
name and some tales of what they had done. Well, this young lady, among
all her friends, had one or two sweethearts, as was natural--for there
were a great coming and going then, before the troubles broke out, and
many visitors at the house--only every one thought she ought to marry
her cousin Konrad, for they had been brought up together, and this
cousin Konrad was a good-looking young man, and amiable, and her parents
would have approved. Are you sure you are listening to my story,
Natalushka?"

"Oh yes, mother," she said, in a low voice; "I think I understand."

"Well," continued the mother, with rather a sad smile, "you know a girl
does not always choose the one whom her friends choose for her. Among
the two or three sweethearts--that is, those who wished to be
sweethearts, do you understand, Natalushka?--there was one who was more
audacious, perhaps, more persistent than the others; and then he was a
man of great ambition, and of strong political views; and the young lady
I was telling you about, Natalushka, had been brought up to the
political atmosphere, and had opinions also. She believed this man was
capable of doing great things; and her friends not objecting, she, after
a few years of waiting, owing to the troubles of political matters,
married him."

She was silent for a moment or two.

"Yes, they were married," she continued, with a sigh, "and for a time
every thing was happy, though the political affairs were so untoward,
and cost much suffering and danger. The young wife only admired her
husband's determined will, his audacity, his ambition after leadership
and power. But in the midst of all this, as time went on, he began to
grow jealous of the cousin Konrad; and Konrad, though he was a
light-hearted young fellow, and meaning no harm whatever, resented being
forbidden to see his cousin. He refused to cease visiting the house,
though the young wife begged him to do so. He was very proud and
self-willed, you must know, Natalushka. Well, the husband did not say
much, but he was morose, and