nd his lordship
unspeakably wearisome, that I do not understand a word of his
intellectual essays, though my lord declares that I know every thing,
that I understand every thing, and have a most profound intellect.
Ah, dear stepfather, it is a terrible misfortune to be so adored and
worshipped as I am; I am supposed to be an angel, who by some rare
accident has fallen upon the earth."

"Truly a misfortune, for which all other women would envy you," said the
major, laughing.

"Then they would make a great mistake," sighed Camilla. "I for my part
am weary of this homage; I have no desire to be, I will not consent
to be an angel; I wish only to be a beautiful, rich young woman and to
enjoy my life--. Do what I will, my husband looks at every act of folly
from an ideal stand-point, and finds thus new material for worship; he
will force me at last to some wild, insane act in order to convince him
that I am no angel, but a weak child of earth."

"You were almost in the act of committing such a folly this evening,"
said her mother, sternly.

"Ah, you mean that I wished to dance. But only think, mamma, with whom I
wished to dance, with my cousin, whom all the world calls 'the handsome
Kindar,' and who dances so gloriously, that it is a delight to see him,
and bliss to float about with him. He only returned this evening, and
he came at once to me and greeted me so lovingly, so tenderly; you know,
mamma, we have always loved each other fondly. When I told him I was
married, he turned pale and looked at me so sorrowfully, and tears were
in his eyes. Oh, mamma, why was I obliged to wed Lord Elliot, who is
so grave, so wise, so learned, so virtuous, and with whom it is ever
wearisome? Why did you not let me wait till Kindar returned, who is
so handsome, so gay, so ignorant, before whom I should never have been
forced to blush, no matter how foolish I had been, and with whom I
should never have been weary?"

"But how did you know that the handsome Kindar wished to marry you?"
said Louise, laughing.

"Oh, yes, mamma, I knew it well; he has often told me so, even when I
was a little girl and he was a cadet. This dreadful war is the cause of
all my misery; it led to his promotion, then he must join his regiment;
then, alas! I must marry another before his return."

"Yes, but a noble, intellectual, and honorable cavalier, who does honor
to your choice," said Du Trouffle.

"Lord Elliot has red hair, squints with both eyes, and i