, with the Eatons. That will
be enough to fill the balcony.'

"I felt the blood growing warm in my cheeks. Why must those Eatons
forever compose a portion of our party? Could no one see how I detested
this eternal companionship with persons who had not a single idea or
principle in common with us?

"Just then Miss Eaton came into the balcony--her transparent muslin
dress looped up at the sleeves and throat with delicate blue ribbons,
floating like a cloud around her, and a wreath of forget-me-nots
relieving the snow-white chip of her bonnet. Her parasol was frosted
over with soft Brussels lace, and a better dressed or more beautiful
creature I have seldom set my eyes upon. James Harrington left my chair
the moment she appeared. Taking the parasol from her hand, he commenced
playing with it as he conversed with her, lightly, carelessly, and with
such smiles as he had not given me in many a long day.

"At times one gets in love with pain, to abridge it seems like
cowardice. What mattered it whether I suffered a little more or less,
since suffering was so early become my destiny? This girl, with her
bright beauty and soft words, superseded me every where; yet she did not
seem to prize the homage for which I famished, but stood there, smiling
up in his face, and dropping a sweet word now and then, carelessly, as
she would have given sugar to a parrot."

CHAPTER XLIV.

THE INFANTA AND HER GUESTS.

"I went into my room and threw a world of bitter energy into my toilet,
angry with myself for not being beautiful enough to win one heart from
that pretty face, angry with him that he could not understand the depth
of feeling and of thought which made my preference so much more worthy
than anything that young creature could ever feel. I had a cruel
pleasure in depreciating myself, and almost hated the face which looked
into mine half angrily from the glass. Its large gray eyes, with their
thick lashes, seemed heavy with unshed tears. There was a frown on the
forehead, rendering it dark and turbulent. The mouth harmonized with
this stormy look, and trembled into half sarcastic smiles, as if each
feature reviled the other. Now I was larger, taller, more pronounced in
face and person than the pretty fairy who could entertain him so
flippantly, while I sat dumb and silent in his presence. No wonder I
hated myself, yet many persons had thought me good looking, and I could
recollect a thousand compliments on my talents and