transfer of the girl from her father’s power to her husband’s. The usual age for a girl’s betrothal was between twelve and twelve and a half (Bill. II, 374); but there is incontestable evidence of betrothals and marriages at an even earlier age (p. 363 n. 26).31 It was very common to be betrothed to a relation,32 and this not only in the leading families where it was difficult for young people to meet because the daughters were kept secluded from the world. Thus for example we hear of a father and