Taquisara

hwest was driving the rain from the roof of the opposite house into a grey whirl of spray t

d unconsciously been looking forward to another day like yesterday, calm and clear and peaceful with much sunshine. But even in Naples it cannot always be spring in December-though it generally is in January. She had hoped for just such anot

r she might propose as a reason, her aunt would immediately wish to accompany her. They had given her the afternoon and the evening of the previous day in which to think over her answer, and Matilde might naturally enough expect to hear it this morning. In any case she should not be able to order the carriage and slip out

not slept very well, and her eyes were heavy, she thought. The glaring whiteness of the thing she had thrown over her shoulders while her hair was being

gly, as she seemed to be to herself when she looked into the mirror, facing the dulness of the rain-beaten window. Whether she herself was ever to care for him or not, she somehow did not wish to disappoint him by her appearance, and the undefined fear lest she might affected her spirits. Then, before she had quite finished dressing, Matilde Macomer knocked at the door

er husband had been an under-steward on the Serra estate at Muro, who had been brutally murdered five years earlier by half a dozen peasants whose rents had been raised, when he endeavoured to exact payment. The rents had been raised by Gregorio Macomer, and the

as ready. And Veronica stood before a tall dressing-mirror, making disjointed remarks about the weather, between her instructions to her maid, while apparently altogether dissatisfied with her appearance. First she wished a little pin at her throat, and then she gave it back to the woman and to

thought her of a belt of her own which Veronica might try, and sent the maid for it, apparently oblivious of the fact that, being fitted

ronica dear?" she asked, making her

red the young girl. "How can I

u did not wish to

be alone-but-one of these days

dear. Why not? He is natural

have seen each other every day,

oing into the subject, but because she was very much int

o wear any jewelry at all," she sa

pidly. "Of course you never suspected that Bosio loved you, and he would have been very wrong to let you know it, until your uncle and I had given our permission. But he was diffident even about mentioning the matter to us. You cannot have known

nica. "As though we did not

at you have decided. But if you would tell me first,-especially if you mean to refuse,-it would be better. I myself wish o

ifferent way. She was trying the dangerous experiment of playi

r the matter, will he not? If he has been in a state of anxiety for weeks, it will not hurt him to be anxious for one day more-or a week more-or even a month. After all, it is for all my life, you know, Aunt Ma

ilde, growing a little pa

sure of it? No-I suppose that one is never sure of anything until one has tried, but one may feel

ntess, quickly agreeing wi

. The belt, as was to be expected, did not fit at all, and Veronica put

lde, in a low voice. "It will be so much easier for him. Wear a flow

uggestion so far as Bosio was concerned. "I am going o

Shall we g

the young girl, frankly and laughing. "I h

the name o

the secret some day. Is it connected with New Year's pre

wish the countess to know that she was going to Bianca Corleone's house, since Matilde would of course suppose, if she knew it, that she was going to consult

ng at the window, upon which the rain was beating

ir," answered Veronica,

made objections. As it was not yet time to go out, and in order to get rid of her aunt, Veronica bade Elettra take out a ball gown which needed some change and imp

ng her face for a moment to betray what she felt. The expression was a strange one; for it showed doubt, fear, conditional hatred, and potential vengeance-a complicated state of m

very simple matter to go to the garden, to find Gianluca there, to walk ten or twenty paces with him out of hearing of Bianca, and to listen to what he had to say. In a manner it had seemed, indeed, a wild and romantic adventure, which she should remember

robably Gianluca would be there already, for it was past eleven o'clock, and Bianca would understand that his coming was the result of what Taquisara had said to Veronica on the previous day. She would not show that she understood, even to Veronica, because she was tactful, but Veronica knew

there. Her doubts were soon set at rest by the sight of his thin face and almost colourless beard, in the distance, as the servant opened the door of the drawing-room. Bianca was seated at the piano, and Gianluca was standing on one side of her, while Ghisle

ca had guessed it almost immediately, and had purposely sat down to the piano to look over the music. It would seem natural, she thought, when Veronica came, that she should resume her seat, and play or sing, with Ghisleri to turn over th

ent. He put out his hand nervously, and then withdrew it, not finding Veronica's, but before he had quite taken it back, hers came forward, and hesitated in the air. Then he took it

tting down to the piano again. "Talk as much as you please,

She had only glanced at him once, and for an instant after they had sat down, side by side, but she had got a good view of his face in that one look. It was evident to her that he was really ill, whatever might be the cause of his illness. The delicate features were unnaturally thin and drawn, and there were b

inly sure that such weakness is indeed the result of love for herself, wearing the man out night and day-and then the pity she feels is instantly all but love itself and in

times already, Donna Veronica, since you came from the c

with a smile. "We have ofte

re whether you reme

quickly in his cheeks, and his hands moved une

ut because she was young enough, and therefore cruel enough, to be amused by his embarrassment. "The la

he last time I saw you; but the last ti

. We have often talked-a l

nluca, with a good deal of empha

ion on the occasion to which he referr

she had then unfortunately answered 'yes,' in a fit of absence of mind,

me that you liked white roses better tha

statement." Veronica laughed, som

y," said Gianluca. "I think I know b

of grave and almost c

ng you say to-day," he add

ometimes say very foolish things, not

e," he said, with another sudden blush, an

er's quiet and refined assurance of manner, and Gianluca seemed to her slightly ridiculous. It was in her blood, and she could not help it. Some of her people had been bad, and some good, but most of them had been strong, and she liked strength,

am sure I do not recollect ever saying anything important enoug

again. "Indeed-I hope you will not think me rude or presumptuous-but I though

ted. "I met Baron Taquisara here yest

ers had completely disappeared-which

s. He t

t the thought that Taquisara had spoken to her for him, and that he himsel

d Veronica, quietly, wond

rue friend, a good friend. If you knew him as

hords at the piano. Now and then a few words, sung in deep, soft notes, sad as the south wind, floated through

beside her. And yet, somehow, she was dismally disappointed. If this was the man who was dying of love, she infinitely preferred Bosio Macomer. Gianluca was evidently in bad health. He looked as though he might be in a decline, and he was clearly very nervous and ill at ease. But

u will forgive me for co

d the young man, with

onica, not unkindly, but with the le

ended," he answered. "But if I thought that I had off

ere is no reason in the world why you should not come here to see Bianca whenever yo

, too, she was aware that Bianca leaned to one side and looked towards her, round the side of the sheet of music, as though to see how matters were progressing. Veronica began to feel that she was in a ridiculous position. The hesitation and pauses and silences had made the brief conversation a

ied in a low and earnest voic

t go soon. I cannot stay long, for I must go home to l

f you knew what it is to me to sit here beside you for a few mi

anly impulse to make him speak and have done with it,

he first happy moment I have had since I saw you the last time. I love you-let me tell you so before I die, and I shall die happy if you will forgive me, for I

the first time that any man had ever told her that he loved her, and for that reason it was to be memorable; but it did not seem to be the first time. Taquisara's manly pleading and fervent voice when he had spoken yesterday

ter all, she had led him on to speak. She herself was shocked at her own heartlessness a moment later, and in one of those absurd concatenations of ideas which run through the mind at important moments, she felt as though she had been giving a merchant an infinity of trouble to show his wares, only to

sorry," she

eful to him for not doing so, having really very little idea of the nature of the over

his delicate, white hands, that trembled spasmodically now and then. "I knew it," he repeated in

tween his fingers. She looked up quickly to see whether Bianca had noticed anything, but the sweet, deep voice was singing

some way an inferior being; and as the idea of marrying him crossed