hair shall be plucked up by the roots;" and she
stamped with her little foot.

"We'll have her scalped, girl!" condoled her bro-
ther.

"Yes, this is the way you always think to manage
me; by laughing at me," cried the spoiled child, in
renewed agony of tears.

"Why, what is the matter?" demanded the Sei-
gneur, wondering, and startled by these threatening
allusions: "What is the meaning of all this, Samson?"

"Oh," answered the latter, striving to perpetrate
a pun, "Only that we have brought Phin a hand-
maiden, and she finds her handsomer than is agree-
able; -- but there is many a servant comelier than the
mistress."

"Let me behold this Paragon," said the Seigneur,
at the same time rising, and moving towards the
door of the inner room, that had been left ajar by the
rude Seraphine, in her indignant exit. Pushing it
slowly open, he beheld Amanda, with half-averted
form, seated upon a chair, her head bowed, but her
face wearing an expression of proud serenity mixed
with grief. His first impulse was to retire; but
pity, respect, admiration, and even awe, bound him
to the spot, and he remained gazing till curiosity and
commiseration alike combined to induce him to
address a figure so incongruous with that mean place,
and whose majestic sorrow seemed too sacred for
interruption.

"Young lady, by your leave; pray pardon me;
but can a stranger be of service to you?" he at length
enquired.

Amanda looked upward. "Oh, if you are, as you

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v?