She was married. No sooner was the ceremony over than the wicked count ordered her to present herself at the castle. The command of the feudal lord could not be disobeyed. Bride and bridegroom, accompanied by the weeping crowd, proceeded to the castle gate. Count Arduino advanced to meet her with a smile, unarmed and unattended. He was but claiming his rights. As he stepped forward to salute her, she presented her cheek to him, and suddenly stabbed him dead at her feet. The mob of relatives and friends wrecked and burned the castle, massacring the retainers to a man. The brave young bride was safely escorted home, where the wedding feast was triumphantly celebrated, and the miller's daughter lived to be the happy mother of many children, and died at a good old age. From that day the _Droit de Seigneur_ ceased to exist in Ivrea. This is the origin of the yearly ceremony at the little Italian town. A pretty boy of seven or eight years of age is chosen by each parish. The boys are dressed in fancy costumes and mounted on horses, escorted by the general of the Carnival, who wears a black uniform, and accompanied by his officers, who are clothed in scarlet. During the Carnival the town is under the rule of the general and his officers. The party are received in state by the mayor, the bishop, and the personages of Ivrea. A poetical address is given at each notable's house. On the second day, the children, some eight or ten in number (they are called _Abba_), on horseback, and escorted by the general and his officers, head a procession, which passes through the town, and which is joined by all the carriages of the place, filled with ladies in gala costume and men in fancy dresses. Everybody dresses up. Then are thrown from windows and balconies, oranges, flowers, and real _confetti_, not the chalk _coriandoli_ of Milan, but good eatable sugar-plums. In the evening the little theatre is illuminated regardless of expense, a fabulous sum being expended on extra lamps. Between the acts the Carnival hymn is sung by the whole strength of the company, the _Abba_ children, the general and his officers, who appear upon the stage; and it is a _sine quâ non_ that every one should wear the republican red cap, even the _Abba_ children and the lady artists. The more enthusiastic among the audience, male and female, also sport the red cap of liberty. Secreted in the omnibus box has been seated the prettiest girl in the town. The _Mugnaia_, as she is called, is carefully arrayed in the costume of the bygone time when the tragedy took place, and now she is escorted by the general of the Carnival to the footlights, a drum and fife band preceding her, the Carnival hymn is sung, vociferously encored and joined in by the audience. The _Mugnaia_ now returns to the box in which she sits in royal state, the observed of all observers. Of course, she is got up regardless of expense. She, too, wears the little red cap,