My mother died, and I have had no one to guide me, for I who for the most part need some one to lead me can already command, and be obeyed.

You had a mother to bring you up, who, when you were still a child, was proud of her pretty little daughter, and let her--as it became her so well-dream and play, without warning her against the dangerous propensity.

Then Mena courted you.

You love him truly, and in four long years he has been with you but a month or two; your mother remained with you, and you hardly observed that she was managing your own house for you, and took all the trouble of the household.

You had a great pastime of your own--your thoughts of Mena, and scope for a thousand dreams in your distant love.