A LEGEND OF THE SAVANNAH.
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Puritan as her father was, he did not deny his daughter, any more than himself, the use of a few ornaments ; and a bandeau of pearls fastened around her graceful head vainly endeavoured to restrain the abundant tresses of her soft, glossy, brown hair, which, breaking loose, floated upon her shoulders in natural ringlets. Her dress of dove-coloured satin flowed in rich and ample folds to her feet, from whence the little slipper peeped forth ; and, gathered around her slender waist by a girdle of pearls, shewed the admirable proportions of her figure. The stiff puritan ruff of lawn, in which every plait could be counted, screened her neck ; but around her small white throat was fastened a carcanet of her favourite gems, not purer in tint than her own fair skin. A wimple of the same colour as her dress, and lined with pale rose tiffany, was tied under her little rounded chin, but which, in the joyousness of her nature, she had unfastened, that she might more fully enjoy the beauties of the evening. The remaining individual that formed the trio was in every respect far different from those already described ; yet, as she stood a few paces behind Bridget—to mark the difference in their rank, although near enough to join in the conversation—her lofty and commanding figure called equally for attention and admiration. The clear olive tinge of her complexion, the large black eye, which sparkled with dazzling light, and the long coal-black hair, braided and twined round and round her head, told that she was not of the same country, or the same people as her mistress. Servant— slave as she was—she looked born to command ; and daring must that person be who would encounter for the second time the flash of her offended eye. Formed in a larger mould than Bridget, her figure still bore the utmost symmetrical proportions ; and the rounded arm and taper fingers might have served as a model for the Goddess of Beauty : this female was Zulmiera—the half-Carib girl. The mother of Zulmiera was a very beautiful Carib vvoman, who, in that disgraceful partition of them among the