Try again, Valeria--try again." With trembling fingers I struck the pen through my first effort, and wrote my maiden name, very badly indeed, as follows: Valeria Brinton When it came to my husband's turn I noticed, with surprise, that his hand trembled too, and that he produced a very poor specimen of his customary signature: Eustace Woodville My aunt, on being requested to sign, complied under protest.

"A bad beginning!" she said, pointing to my first unfortunate signature with the feather end of her pen.

"I hope, my dear, you may not live to regret it." Even then, in the days of my ignorance and my innocence, that curious outbreak of my aunt's superstition produced a certain uneasy sensation in my mind.

It was a consolation to me to feel the reassuring pressure of my husband's hand.

It was an indescribable relief to hear my uncle's hearty voice wishing me a happy life at parting.