The pledge won from him by his sister Manasseh had come to regard as no less sacred than the articles of his faith.

Thenceforth he commanded not merely the love of his betrothed, but her adoration.
* * * * * Blanka soon found herself leading a life that differed in every respect from that which she had so recently quitted.

In the Cagliari palace she had been left entirely to herself, and when she went abroad it had been only to witness scenes of intrigue and envy, dissipation and frivolity, hypocrisy and deceit, on every side.

But in her new home she found a large family of honest souls living in loving harmony under one roof, all its members engaged in active work for the common good, and sharing at a common table the bread that they earned.

Every joy, every sorrow was common to all, and so the newcomer was at once claimed as a sister by all alike, and immediately became a universal favourite.