BERTHA. 35 



was still buried in this wilderness of beauty and sweetness. 

 Her eyes became wearied with gorgeous tints, her brain was be- 

 wildered by the rich and mingled perfumes which she had been 

 inhaling, and a sort of dreamy languor stole over her senses. 

 She retreated to a grotto, which opened from the conservatory, 

 and was scooped into the very heart of the hill. The soft and 

 tender light diffused through this moss-lined cave ; the tinkling 

 of a fountain which played in the midst ; the shadowy presence 

 of a water-nymph carved in Parian marble ; the vista of flower- 

 ing shrubs which guarded the entrance, and the faint odor of 

 the blossoms which came blended with the freshness of the 

 musical waters, all combined to attune her whole soul to ten- 

 derness. She felt as she had never done before. A vague want 

 had been created ; and her heart seemed to be in a mood of 

 sweet expectancy, when she was suddenly joined by the master 

 of all this fair domain. It was the precise moment for a decla- 

 ration ; and though the calm lover could form no idea of the full 

 power of the spell he had used, yet he saw enough to satisfy 

 him that he had gained his point. Ere Bertha recovered from 

 her intoxication of feeling, she had plighted her faith, and was 

 an affianced bride. 



No after misgivings troubled Bertha's heart. The matter 

 once decided, she gave it no further thought ; for the unwonted 

 excitement she had felt at the moment when her lover proffered 

 his heart and hand, was so painful to her joyous temper, that 

 she shrunk almost with terror from any thing which could re- 

 new such emotion. She mistook the bewilderment of her 

 senses for the influence of first love ; and she cared not to 



