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"Well, if you really speak in earnest," said the princess, "then I

have only to respond that it will ust king or yourself may have to make of me"

"Then I may be allowed, on this occasion of the celebration of your

na presents ofto take the boxes and

packages from the lackeys and place them before Elizabeth

"They are only trifles," continued he, while assiduously occupied in

opening the boxes, "trifles of little value--only interesting, perhaps,

because they are novelties that have as yet been worn in Paris by no

lady except the queen and madame!

"This mantelet of Valenciennes lace," continued the busy ically fine lace texture, "this

mantelet is sent by the Queen of France to the illustrious Princess

Elizabeth Only two such mantelets have been made, and her majesty

has strictly commanded that no more of a similar pattern shall be

coht Like a curious child

she fluttered from one box to the other, and in fact they were very

costly, tasteful, and chars which their majesties of France

had sent to the Princess Elizabeth, who prized nothing higher than

splendor in dress and ornaold-eht crape