Then the mother's eyes, which had been riveted upon that beautiful apparition, turned to the boy, her eldest born, the diamond among her jewels; and, laying her hand fondly on his forehead, she smoothed back the tangled locks from his high, intellectual brow. Even at that light touch he started; his arms were tossed above his head, his attitude expressed disquiet, his color deepened, then paled again, his lips moved inaudibly; that he possessed a nervous, ardent temperament, it was easy to divine.
"Give him genius! Great genius!" she murmured fondly.
What delicious perfume stole through the chamber? It was the Fairy's soundless sigh.
"Ronald shall have genius!" she answered.
"What gift will you bestow upon your daughter?"
The mother gazed tenderly upon the little maiden, slumbering by her side, the ruby of her carcanet. Long, black lashes swept over the blooming cheek of the child, dark, clustering ringlets, waved in shining luxuriance about her snowy temples and throat, a half smile parted the exquisite mouth, the delicate outline of a symmetrical form was visible through the white raiment.
"She will be a woman; give her beauty, great beauty!" said the mother, enthusiastically.
"Cynthia shall have beauty!" replied the fairy, and this time her sigh was like the moan of a
