The Valley of Decision

as perturbed, his travelling-coat spattered with mud, and his daughter, hooded and veiled, clung to him with an air of apprehension that smote Od

ight, and I hope that I or my carriage may be of service to you." He ventured a second glance at Fulvia, but sh

ve one; for the wheel has come off our carriage and my driver here tells me there is no smithy this side Vercelli, where it is imperative we should lie tonight. I hope, h

ing fear underlay his composure, and the nat

oined. "I am for Vercelli, and if you will honou

uggage, which lay in a heap beside the chaise; but at this point she lifted

nal weight of our luggage perhaps delay your progress. I have little fear but some van or waggon will overtake us before nightfall; and should it chance otherwise,"

to a lady unused to passing her nights in a rice-field. The region about here is notoriously unhealthy and you will su

ng to the touch-'the calm of a mind blest in the consciousness of its virtue'; and were it not that circumstances are somewhat pressing-

y servants put your luggage up and we'

were out of Cantapresto's hearing, "of concealing from you that this offer comes very opportune to our needs, for it is urgent we should be out of Piedmont by tomorrow. But be

he cause of his misadventure; and the young man, though flushing to the forehead, to

crime to share it with others. I have long foreseen that any attempt to raise the condition of my countrymen must end in imprisonment or flight; and though perhaps to have suffered the former had been a more impressive vindication of my views, why, s

t here an opportunity, if not to atone, at lea

rom what you say, I take to be your destination also; and if you and your daughter will give me your company across the border I think you need

f our present needs that it encourages me to accept the smaller favour of travelling with you to Vercelli. There w

were most likely to arise; but after a few moments of debate Vivaldi declared he must first take c

sdom to the blush, wishes me first to enquire if you purpose returning to Turin; since in that case,

would not weigh with me an instant; but as I am leaving Piedmont f

agreed that at Vercelli Odo was to set down his companions at an inn whence, alone and privately, they might gain their friend's house; that on the morr

to offer Fulvia a hand to the carriage

sured of my discretion; but I ought perhaps to warn you that my companion yonder, though the good-natur

f war, learn to carry their despatches beneath their tongues. You may trust us not to betray ourselves; and your f

er. This unmerited repulse, and the constraint occasioned by Cantapresto's presence, made the remainder of the drive interminable. Even the Professor's apposite reflections on rice-growing and the culture of the mulberry did little to shorten the way; and when at length the bell-towers of Vercelli rose in sight Odo felt the relief of a ma

es of the houses, innumerable tiny lamps framed the doors and windows, and the street-shrines were dressed with a profusion of flowers; while every square and open space in the city was crowded with booths, with the tents of ambulant comedians and dentists, and with the outspread carpets of snake-charmers, posture-makers and jugglers. Among this mob of quacks and pedlars circulated other fantastic figures, the camp-followers of the army

h pretty faces in the crowd to justify such familiarities, and even so modest a success was not without solace to his vanity. He lingered for some time in the square, answering the banter of the blooming market-women, inspecting the filigree-ornaments from Genoa, and watching a little yellow bitch in a hooped petticoat and lappets dance the furlana to the music of an armless fiddler who held the bow in his teeth. As he turned from this show Odo's eye was caught by a handsome girl who, on the arm of a dashing cavalier in somewhat shabby velvet, was cheapening a pair of gloves at a neighbouring stall. The girl, who was masked, shot a dark glance at Odo from under her three-cornered Venetian hat; then, tossing down a coin, she gathered

e had hoped to spend it in Vivaldi's company, but the Professor not having invited him, he saw no prospect but to return to the inn and sup alone with Cantapresto. In the doorway

to spring up? Here we are scarce alit in a strange city, and already a messenger finds the way to our inn with a most pa

ter might be from Fulvia; but on breaking the seal

esires to renew her acquaintance with him, the trifling gift

ith Cantapresto for the Philodramatic Academy. It was late when they entered their box, and several masks were already capering before the footlights, exchanging lazzi with the townsfolk in the pit, and addressing burlesque compliments to the quality in the boxes. The theatre seemed small and shabby after those of Turin, and there

ima amorosa, whom the enamoured Briton pursued; and in the Columbine, when she sprang upon the stage with a pirouette that showed her slender ankles and embroidered clocks, Odo instantly recognised the graceful figure and killing glance of his masked beauty. Her face, which was now uncovered, more than fulfilled the promise of her eyes, being indeed as arch and engaging a countenance as ever flashed distraction across the foot-lights. She was greeted with an outburst of delight that cost her

rmed on the frigid elegancies of Metastasio and the French stage there was something refreshing in this plunge into the coarse homely atmosphere of the old popular theatre. Extemporaneous comedies were no longer played in the great cities, and Odo lis

s the stage pursued by Milord Zambo, who, furious at the coquetries of his betrothed, was avenging himself by his attentions to the Columbine. Half way across, her foot caught and she fell

a common mortal to embrace one who has been kissed by his

curtsey, to the delight of the audience, who had no notion of what was going forward, but were in the humour to clap

apresto returned with that air of furtive relish that always proclaimed him the bearer of a tender message. The one he now brought was to the effect that the Signorina Miranda Malmocco, justly renowned as one of the first Columbines of Italy, had charged him to lay at the Cavaliere Valsecca's feet her excu

s that his carriage should be at the door the next morning an hour before sunrise; and he now repeated these instructions to Cantapresto, charging him on his life to see that nothing interfered with their fulfilment. The soprano objected that the hour was