A Golden Book of Venice

d ever come from the brush of the Veronese, and already the Servite friars, in their long black robes and white cowls, had visited the studio with suggestions many and f

y of the 'Venezia' in

r, "and the people like the red and b

re-kneeling," suggested another, more timidly; for it was known that the

l I paint, for the good of my soul, as mine art shall prompt me and not otherwise. An

most learned man of his learned age; but Fra Paolo's face owed its distinction to the rare impression it gave the beholder of invincible calm and self-mastery, with a certain mysterious hint of power and a promise of unswervingness. His gaze held no sugges

. Serve faithfully the God who gave the gift

ture, as if he would learn its meaning, the art

face, it is holy-of the beauty that God permits-yet I pretend no criticism, since Art is not of mine un

pleased and serious, feeling that this man, who was not an artist, had comprehend

a had come for the last time, "Benedetto hath need of me in the outer studio for some measurements,"

silently before her. When he gathered courage to look a

a!" he

tended, as if to keep him from coming nearer; but her face, as she turned it frankly to his,

questioned radiantly, as

she were afraid, but as though she wo

d, "and shown me mine own secret, which I

Marina, as if you wo

ciation of it is for us

people, and you-o

lso be!" he aff

s which she made no effort to withhold, yet he dared not

it shall be done. Reach me your hand, M

r so humbly, but a new revere

t, then her words came br

father and mother, who are of the nobles, and my father, who is of the peop

not keep u

ll Giustinian Giustiniani ask a daughter of the p

hee to Murano. Perhaps th

ould be useless. I think I shall no

to thee?" Marco questione

d not

h of the nobles and the people

twain; my father hath often said it. Some other day, perhaps-I do not know-if it is needful for the p

lowed her, but sh

and constant, rose from hundreds of glass-workers' chimneys, dimming the reflections in the

an the one where the gondolas from the great houses of Venice gather and float lazily; past the line of low, whitewashed cottages bordering the narrow foot-path on either side, over the little wooden bridge that spans the lag

ss that he looked up into her face with startled eyes; hers were brimming with smiles and tears, and with that wise child

o," she said caressingly, as he nestl

e clumps of coarse blades; but to her this poor turf was something precious associated with that island sanctuary, restful and strange, and she drew a long breath wit

enter of the campo, where other little ones were playing; in the corner by the well groups of women, from the cottages that bounded the campo on one side, wer

seemed nearer-bluer. She turned to her little charge with a beaming face-her moods were so easily wrought upon by ph

triking the air impotently with small, clenched fists, frightenin

and hands, before came the period of exhaustion in which he nestled close, panting from weakness. Then she carried him into the church, where, kne

need the children suffer?-th

eching Mater Dolorosa, who, wrapped in the clinging folds of her long blue robe, still leaned forward from the marble background of the apse, compassionate for the suff

n, with an intricate sensitiveness of conscience which often rendered her unintelligible to her confessor, she lingered for delight. For the tracery on the arches-the co

id, "who willest pain; but thy chi

beautiful, compassionate, and commanding, in this field of flaming scarlet lilies; when a great empero

the people it was the

ent was cold and bare, she knelt again, her rosary dropping from her hands as she shyly whispered the burden of her strange new confession to this ever-wa

other friend to

came to him more easily, but it did not bring refreshment, and the roses on his cheeks were only signs of failing bloom. Passionately Marina's loving prayers were breathed befo

o blessing," she said. "Earth held no joy for him; Go