o his wife with bitter pain. "I feel
it in myself that she is lost! Her death would have been less painful to
me than this marriage."

For many days he continued silent and melancholy.

CHAPTER XIV.

LITTLE SCENES.

The past episode had gone through the house like a whirlwind. When it
was over, the heaven cleared itself anew, and they were able to confess
that a more joyful tranquillity had diffused itself over all. There was
no one who did not think of Sara with sympathy, who did not weep
sometimes at her violent separation from the family; but there was no
one, with the exception of the Judge and Petrea, who did not feel her
absence to be a secret relief; for one unquiet temper, and one full of
pretension, can disturb a whole household, and make the most exquisite
natural gifts of no account.

The Judge missed a daughter from the beloved circle; missed that
beautiful, richly-endowed girl, and could not think of her future
prospects without bitter anxiety. Petrea wept the object of her youthful
admiration and homage, but consoled herself with the romantic plans she
formed for seeing her again, in all of which she gave to herself the
province of guardian angel, either as the queen of a desert island, or
as a warrior bleeding for her, or as a disguised person who unloosed
her bonds in the depths of a dungeon in order to put them on herself: in
short, in all possible ways in the world except the possible one.

Sara wrote soon after her separation from her friends; she spoke of the
past with gratitude, and of the future with hope. The letter exhibited a
certain decision and calmness; a certain seriousness, which diffused
through the family a satisfactory ease of mind with regard to her future
fate. Elise was ever inclined to hope for the best, and young people are
always optimists: the Judge said nothing which might disturb the peace
of his family, whilst Louise alone shook her head and sighed.

After the many disturbing circumstances which had lately occurred in the
family, all seemed now to long after repose, and the ability to enjoy a
quieter domestic life. Occupations of all kinds--those simple but
cheerful daughters of well-regulated life, went on cheerfully and
comfortably under the eye of Louise. There was no want in the house of
joyful hours, sunshine of every kind, and entertainment full of
interest. The newspapers which the Judge took in, and which kept the
family _au courant_ of the questions of