and make an exhibition of humiliating weakness.  The dread of this was sufficient to detain her at home; and so she remained indoors, a prisoner, refusing her liberty, brooding over her troubles, and striving to acquire that indifference to him which she believed he had toward her.  Now going about was the very thing which would have alleviated her woes, but this was the very thing that she was unwilling to do; nor could any persuasion shake her resolve.

One day Mrs. Willoughby and Minnie were out driving, and in passing through a street they encountered a crowd in front of one of the churches.  Another crowd was inside, and, as something was going on, they stopped the carriage and sat looking.  The Swiss Guards were there in their picturesque costume, and the cardinals in their scarlet robes and scarlet coaches, and military officers of high rank, and carriages of the Roman aristocracy filled with beautiful ladies.  Something of importance was going on, the nature of which they did not know.  A little knot of Englishmen stood near; and from their remarks the ladies gathered that this was the Church of the Jesuits, and that the Pope in person was going to perform high-mass, and afterward hold a reception.

Soon there arose a murmur and a bustle among the crowd, which was succeeded by a deep stillness.  The Swiss Guards drove the throng to either side, and a passage-way was thus formed through the people to the church.  A carriage drove up in great state.  In this was seated an elderly gentleman in rich pontifical robes.  He had a mild and gentle face, upon which was a sweet and winning smile.  No face is more attractive than that of Pio Nono.

“Oh, look!” cried Minnie; “that must be the Pope.  Oh, what a darling!”

Mrs. Willoughby, however, was looking elsewhere.

“Minnie,” said she.

“What, Kitty dear?”

“Are you acquainted with any Zouave officer?”

“Zouave officer!  Why, no; what put such a thing as that into your head, you old silly?”

“Because there’s a Zouave officer over there in the crowd who has been staring fixedly at us ever since we came up, and trying to make signals, and it’s my opinion he’s signaling to you.  Look at him; he’s over there on the top of the steps.”

“I won’t look,” said Minnie, pettishly.  “How do I know who he is?  I declare I’m afraid to look at any body.  He’ll be coming and saving my life.”

“I’m sure this man is an old acquaintance.”

“Nonsense! how can he be?”

“It may be Captain Kirby.”

“How silly!  Why, Captain Kirby is in the Rifles.”

“Perhaps he is dressed this way just for amusement.  Look at him.”

“Now, Kitty, I think you’re unkind.  You know I don’t want to look at him; I don’t want to see him.  I don’t care who he is—­the great, big, ugly, old horrid!  And if you say any thing more, I’ll go home.”

Mrs. Willoughby was about to say something, but her attention and Minnie’s, and that of every one else, was suddenly diverted to another quarter.