It sometimes happens that at the meetings of the eighty-five the maiden, distracted between contending aspirants, is unable to give the preference to any.  In that case she is put back for another year.

At the end of the year another assembly of young men is called; the number invited is limited, however, to forty-five, and the evenings are reduced to twelve.  Should the lady again fail to select—­a very improbable occurrence—­another and final assembly would be called for the following year, the number of gentlemen being reduced to twenty-one, and the evenings to seven, and if the lady should still remain undecided she must be content to enjoy single blessedness during the rest of her life.  For my own part, I do not recollect more than one case where the selection was postponed beyond the second year.

XXL.

THE DRESS OF SHAME.

Sun-coloured silks—­the art of pleasing.

“Let not the ranks of the good be defiled by the presence of him
  who has betrayed his trust.”

I never knew an instance of the trust confided to the Marriage Councils being in any way abused.  None are selected for the office, who have not, after years of probation, shown themselves in every way worthy of the sacred trust.

A severe punishment would attend any deviation from the strict path of honour; the offender, condemned to wear “the dress of shame,” would probably be degraded from his rank.  After a time had passed, sufficient to exhibit his punishment as a warning to others, he would, perhaps, be banished to a distant country.  It should be understood that every other part of our world is less agreeable than Montalluyah.

The dress of shame to which I have just referred, is a common robe formed of one piece, and of sombre colour, on which dress are placed marks indicating the nature of the offence and the name of the offender.  Similar marks are likewise placed over his house, and are well understood by the people.

Independently of the deep degradation implied by this costume, the entire privation of his ordinary dress would alone be a punishment to the offender, for the people are very fond of dressing well.  I encouraged the love of dress particularly in woman, for I thought that when properly regulated it was good, and heightened the beauty of the picture.  With us the style of dress and the taste of its arrangement are thought indications of the mind within, but none are allowed to dress or wear jewels beyond their station.

After marriage ladies, according to their rank, are allowed to wear very rich costumes.  The textures are beautiful and the colours very brilliant.

SUN SILK.

The sun gives lustre to fabrics and imparts colours which can be supplied by no other means.  In your planet such brilliancy is never seen except in the sun itself.  We have, for instance, a silk of a very remarkable colour, which is highly prized by the ladies.  Of this you may form a remote notion if you imagine a bright silver green radiant with all the vividness and brilliancy you sometimes see in the sunsets of your southern climes.