HOLY GHOST, Amen." I cannot copy the list of the trousseau, because time fails me, and I shall have to do it later when my own turn comes.

20th February. Well, the time is drawing near, in five days the wedding will take place. Last night M. le Staroste arrived, Barbe trembled like an autumnal leaf when the page announced him. To-day we are expecting his father and brother, and the Abbé Vincent, also the Palatin and Palatine of Granowska; the latter is the Staroste's sister. The other sister Madame Lanckorowska cannot come to Maleszów, for she is just now with her husband in Podolia. Barbe much regrets this, for she wished particularly to know her, as every one speaks so warmly of her. My sister is certainly entering into a good family, all the members of it are religious and honourable, they are full of kindness and consideration for her, and treat her as if she were a queen. The trousseau is completely finished and what has not already been sent to Sulgostów is placed in trunks, of which Mademoiselle Zawistowska has the keys. Barbe is very pleased to take Mademoiselle Zawistowska away with her, she has been accustomed from her childhood to see her, and when she is far from the maternal house she will be glad of her care besides having happy associations connected with her. Some of the people from the Castle will also follow her into her new home, she will have besides two pages, two young girls who are her godchildren, and who embroider well, a maid and a young lady companion. The latter belongs to a good family and is clever and intelligent, she is called Louisa Linowska, she has been for some years at the Castle, and Barbe is passionately fond of her. There are three other girls who have asked the patronage of the future Starostine. If my parents gave their consent, Barbe would soon have at least a dozen. When I marry, I shall take a great many more into my service, I have already made a solemn promise to three of our girls that they shall go with me; one of them is the daughter of Hyacinth the butler, and when he learnt my intention, the poor man made me a low bow, and for the first time in his life the wrinkles went out of his face.

24th February. To-morrow will be Barbe's wedding day! There are crowds of people at the Castle. The Minister Borch who is to represent the king, has already arrived, so has the representative of the Duke of Courland1 Kochanowski, he is the son of the Duke's favourite,

1 Kochanowski, the ancestor of the courtier here mentioned, after having studied at the University of Poland, went to Paris for seven years, then to Rome and Padua, becoming later Secretary to Sigismond Augustus who offered him the position of

the late Castellan, and is full of accomplishments, one can truly say, "like master like man." The invitations were issued for to-morrow night, and every one has been punctual to the "rendez-vous."

The entrance of the Royal representatives was magnificent, everything had been prepared for their reception, messengers had preceded them, and our dragoons drawn up in battle array presented arms to each gentleman as he arrived, while the musketry rolled and the cannon fired and a band of music played at intervals. I never witnessed anything so grand, imposing, and exciting as this reception. Of course especial honours were paid to the king's representative. My father stood bare-headed on the drawbridge awaiting the approach of this distinguished guest, who in order to reach the Castle had to pass through a hedge composed of our court, our guests, and all the suite, while he was greeted right and left by an endless succession of bows and cheers. To-day, in the midst of a great concourse of people and in the presence of appointed witnesses, the contract of marriage has been drawn out. As to the settlements, I understand nothing about them, but I know that the bride's presents are superb and in the best possible taste. The Staroste offered her three rows of Eastern pearls and diamond earrings with pendants. The Palatin gave her a diamond cross, an aigrette, and a diadem. The colonel, who is always gallant and amiable, presented her with a watch and beautiful chain from Paris. The Abbé Vincent gave her a characteristic present of some relics in fact they overpower her. Hitherto Barbe has never worn a jewel, the only ornament she possessed was a ring with a picture of the Virgin, and that she will never leave off in spite of all these fine things.

:

I must stop writing, for they have brought me my dress washed and ironed, nothing could be more effective than the embroidery, but I must put in the last stitches and then carry it to Mademoiselle Zawistowska, that she may offer it to Barbe when she dresses to-morrow. How charming she will look in it!

26th February. Our little Macienko says that a hundred horses sent after Barbe could not now overtake her. She is Madame la Starostine. How shall I ever describe all that happened at the wed

Senator and title of Prince, but he refused these honours, and retired to his native village where he gave himself up to the pursuit of literature, and he holds the first place amongst Polish poets and writers. A dramatic piece entitled "The Dismissal f the Greek Ambassadors," is considered the most valuable that Poland possesses.

ding. I feel as much dazzled as delighted by it, but I must try and gather my ideas together and proceed with method. Yesterday first thing in the morning we went to the Church of Lissów. The young couple confessed and took the Communion during High Mass, kneeling in front of the high altar and then receiving the benediction of the priest. Barbe wore—and I fully appreciated her kindness—the pretty morning dress I had made her, and it suited her admirably, but as the morning was excessively cold, she was obliged to put over it a white satin pelisse lined with white fox, which rather crushed her dress. Her hair was charmingly arranged, and fastened to it was a veil of white blonde, which fell down to her feet. On our return to the Castle we breakfasted, the repast being served with great state and luxury, and as soon as it was over Barbe went up to her room followed by my mother and twelve ladies who were to preside over her toilette. She then put on a long-trained dress of white satin, with stripes of moiré trimmed with Brussels blonde embroidered in silver. In her hand she carried a bunch of rosemary, and on her head a small bunch of the same plant fastened by a gold pin, on which was inscribed in verse the date and day of her marriage, and the congratulations she had received upon the occasion. Barbe looked very well thus attired, but my mother would not allow her to wear her jewels, reminding her of the saying, that

"She who wears jewels the day she is a wife,

Will shed bitter tears all the rest of her life."

That was quite enough for Barbe, who had already shed so many tears that her eyes were quite swollen. In the bouquet that my mother had fastened to Barbe's side was a golden ducat, that had been struck the day of her birth, a piece of bread and a little salt. These adjuncts to the flowers are customary with us, and the saying is that by observing to place them in the bouquet one will never be in want of these three chief necessaries. Another symbolic precaution is to add a little piece of sugar to sweeten the trials of matrimony.

We preceded Barbe into the drawing-room. We were twelve young girls dressed in white with flowers in our hair. The eldest of us had just completed her eighteenth year. The Colonel and the Abbé Vincent were waiting for us at the entrance of the large drawing-room, then in front of us came the Staroste with twelve young men, and behind them was carried an immense tray full of flowers. Each bouquet was tied with a bow of white ribbon, and was composed of

rosemary, myrtle, lemon, and orange blossom, and we all had pins1 of gold or silver with which to fasten them to our sides. My mother and the elderly ladies who presided over the ceremony had previously instructed us in what we were to do and the etiquette we were to observe, in order to avoid giving offence to any one. We perfectly understood all the injunctions, but when once in the drawing-room we entirely forgot them. We began by fastening on our bouquets in a very dignified solemn manner. Then we felt inclined to laugh and could not restrain ourselves, and after that we committed a thousand mistakes and awkwardnesses, but no one seemed to judge us very severely, indeed I have often noticed that a good deal of indulgent allowance is made for young girls, especially if they chance to be pretty. Our liveliness seemed to infect all the others. The married people old and young, who had no right to bouquets, came and asked us for them, and how could we refuse? so whoever asked received, and in a few minutes not only the great pyramid of flowers had vanished, but a second and a third had disappeared, while the supply of gold and silver pins failing, we were obliged to have recourse to common ones, but as it was we who presented them, they were taken in good part. At last every one was satisfied and pleased, each person had received a bouquet, and the drawing-room was so full of flowers that it looked like a garden. In saying every one was pleased I made a mistake, Macienko sat apart in a corner of the drawing-room looking very woe-begone. Although a bachelor he was without a bouquet, and seemed as if he did not belong to the bridal party. I went up to him and he said in a low injured voice, "I am not surprised that all the other bridesmaids should have forgotten me, but I am surprised at you, Françoise you whom I have carried in my arms and played with and amused for so many years. I will not come to your wedding even if you marry the Prince Royal." I coloured up to the eyes, feeling pleased and pained at the same time, and rushed to the store-room, where unfortunately not a single bouquet remained. My mother had already helped herself, and had divided the remaining flowers among the worthy dowagers who were assisting at Barbe's toilette. The gardener's house was some distance off, but as I was determined that

The gold pins for the wedding bouquets are used in Poland for the same purpose to this day. The heads are formed like dice, and on the different squares are engraved the initials of the bride and bridegroom and the date of the marriage, and one is presented to each unmarried guest.

Macienko should have a bouquet, (not for his frivolous allusion to my possible future, for we do not live in the times when kings1 married virtuous Polish wives and lived happily with them,) an excellent idea occurred to me, and seizing a piece of white ribbon and a pin, I hastened back into the drawing-room, where I divided my own bouquet with Macienko, and fastened his with the gold pin, keeping the common one for myself. He was delighted, and exclaimed "Françoise, you are not only beautiful, but always kind. Sometimes I am a prophet, may the desires and good wishes be accomplished, but let what will happen, I shall keep this bouquet until your wedding day, and who knows what you may be when I return it to you ?”

It is strange how these words ring in my ears although I have so much to engross my attention, and when I ought to be thinking only of Barbe I am dwelling upon myself. To return to her. Every eye was fixed on the entrance, when the folding doors were thrown open and my sister, bathed in tears, supported and surrounded by the elderly ladies, made her appearance. She walked timidly forward, her chest heaving as she endeavoured to stifle her sobs. The bridegroom went up to her, and taking her hand with much tenderness of manner, led her to our parents that they might together receive the paternal blessing, which was given with touching emotion. Afterwards they made their way round the drawing-room, and each person offered good wishes. Then the chapel was thrown open, and we beheld the Abbé Vincent before the altar. Borch the king's minister, and Kochanowski (the Prince's representative,) each offered a hand to Barbe, while I and Mademoiselle Malachowska, the two eldest bridesmaids, were desired to lead the Staroste. Our parents, the remainder of the family, and our guests, two and two followed. The silence was so profound, that one could hear the rustling of the silk dresses and even the waving of

1

Sigismond Augustus II., before he ascended the Polish throne in 1548, had married Barbe Radziwill, the widow of a Palatin. When by the death of his father he was called to the throne, the nobles, who considered themselves the equals of the sovereign, sent a deputation to Sigismond to demand that he should divorce his wife, declaring that they would not recognise as queen a woman who was not of royal birth. To the Palatin of Cracow, who supplicated him in the name of the Senate on his knees to annul the marriage, Sigismond replied with dignity, "What is done cannot be undone. Do you think I should be likely to keep my faith with you if I were capable of breaking it with my wife?" And he showed so much determination to hold his ground, that the Queen's coronation took place the following

year.