[Illustration: Eng^d. by W. G. Jackman, N.Y. from a Miniature by Thorburn. NEW YORK, CARLETON, PUBLISHER, 1863. ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WANDERINGS OF A BEAUTY. A Tale OF THE REAL AND THE IDEAL. BY +MRS+. +EDWIN JAMES+. “O tu, eui feo la sorte Dono infelice di belezza, ond’hai Funesta dote, d’infiniti guai.” FILICAJA. [Illustration] New York: _Carleton, Publisher, 413 Broadway_. (LATE RUDD & CARLETON.) MDCCCLXIII. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, +BY+ +GEO. W. CARLETON+, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TO SIR EDWARD LYTTON BULWER LYTTON, BART., IN TOKEN OF PROFOUND ADMIRATION FOR HIS GENIUS, AND SYMPATHY WITH HIS OPINIONS, THIS WORK +Is Inscribed+, BY THE AUTHOR. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS. ---------- CHAPTER PAGE I.—Introductory 9 II.—Courtship 18 III.—The Stepfather 28 IV.—The Bridal 36 V.—A Railway Journey 43 VI.—Home Scenes 50 VII.—Presentation to the Queen 59 VIII.—Foreign Travel 68 IX.—Florence 76 X.—Coquetry 85 XI.—First Love 95 XII.—Death 105 XIII.—Naples and the Neapolitans 112 XIV.—I Promessi Sposi 120 XV.—The Grotto of Egeria 127 XVI.—Rossini 136 XVII.—The Star of Destiny 145