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LABOULAYE’S FAIRY BOOK
people looked at me more than they did at the blessed
Virgin."
" Hush! you are blaspheming. Pray, my daughter, pray
that you may not fall into temptation."
But Marienka ran away to escape her mother’s sermon.
The same day a carriage entered the yard. A young lord
came to entreat Marienka to share a nobleman’s bread with
him.
“It is a great honor,” said the mother; but vanity is
blind.
‘Though you should come in a silver coach,” said Marien¬
ka to the new suitor, "and should offer me a golden diadem,
I would not have you for a husband."
." Take care, my child,” said the poor mother; "pride
is a device of the Evil One."
" Mothers never know what they are saying,” thought
Marienka, and she went out shrugging her shoulders.
The third night the mother could not sleep for anxiety.
As she lay awake, praying for her daughter, behold! Marien¬
ka burst into a loud fit of laughter.
“Oh!” said the mother, “what can the unhappy child be
dreaming now?" And she continued to pray till daylight.
"My dear child,” said she in the morning, "what did
you dream last night?"
“You will be angry again if I tell you.” answered Ma¬
rienka.
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