A Siren

Night o

arnival observance is, that the life of it, unlike that of most other things and beings, is intensified with a constantly crescendo movement up to the last minutes of its existence. And there now remained but an

ove Tuesday. Generally, however, in the pleasure-loving cities of Italy, a few hours' law are allowed or winked at

gin to descend into the body of the house, to have its lights flapped out by the handkerchiefs of the revellers amid a last frantic rondo, till some four hours after midnight. But in provincial Ravenna, a Pope's city un

t the lights would be extinguished on the night in question at the "Circolo dei Nobili," and

was at its height, and the dancers danced a

Legate-was, in many other respects, the first and foremost man of the city. He was a bachelor of some fifty years old. And bachelors' houses and bachelors' balls have the reputation of enjoying the privilege of a somewhat freer and more unreserved gaiety and jollity than those of their neighbours more heavily weighted with the cares

ted, men in the city. And there was not a member of the "society" who would not have been sadly hurt at not being invited to the great annual Carnival ball at the Castelmare palace. But the same degree of

s there solely and entirely to amuse and enjoy themselves. Host and guests, indeed, were almost identical.

contributed, together with his well-known extraordinarily pronounced propensity for cramming himself with pastry, to give him the pale, puffed, pasty face, swelling around a pair of pale fish-like eyes, that distinguished him,-the Conte Leandro Lombardoni; indeed, had gone to the Castelmare palace as "Apollo," in a costume which young Ludovico Castelmare,

throughout Italy as Bianca Lalli-"La Lalli," or "La Bianca," in theatrical parlance-for she was one of the first singers of the day. Special circumstances-to be explained at a future page-had rendered it possible for remote little Ravenna to secure the celebrated artist for the Carnival, which was now expiring. The Marchese Lamberto, who, among many other avocations and occupations, all of them contributing in some way or other to the welfare and advantage o

happened, had mentioned to the other the dress they intended to wear. Bianca, in fact, used as she was to wear costumes of all sorts, and to outshine all beauties near her in all or any of them, had thought nothing about her dress,

cently handsome pair they made. Bianca's dress, or at least the general appearance and effect of it, will readily be imagined by those acquainted with the full-length portraits of Titian or Tintoretto. A more strictl

uld have otherwise been, in consequence of the Marchese Lamberto not dancing. It was a long time since he had done so. There were many men dancing less fitted than he, as far as appearance and capability, and even as far as years went, to join in such amusements. Nevertheless, all Ravenna would have been almost as mu

n the ball-room, instead of consorting with the younger folks. Of course that was entirely out of the question. But none the less for that was the evening a time of cruel suffering and martyrdom to the Marchese. Of course he believed that the adoption of so singularly

refreshment. There was a large supper-room which, on the cessation of the waltz, immediately became crowded by other couples bent on a similar errand. But there had also been established a little subsidiary buffet in a small

rrangements for the ball; and was, accordingly, well aware of the whereabouts of this little "succursale" to the supper-room. But it is probable that the existence of it was unknown to the great majority

was set apart for those who are lost by the 'peccato della gola?' or

me other sins," said the Conte Leandro, with mo

aughing, as he gave Bianca a glass of ch

gnora Bianca? You must be starved b

ve not tasted i

e of the qualities of our woodcocks. They are the finest in the world. The

uch of the Pineta. The

n its greatest beauty,-the early spring, when the wild flowers are all beginnin

seem really a shame to leave Ravenna

f these fine spring days. It is just the time for it. Some morning, the ear

would willingly make them matutinal for

so to that part of the forest which lies to the southward of the city; or by the northern road, which very soon enters the wood on that s

have heard of the Pineta

minute. "There is no time like the present. It will be a charming finish to our

with lips and eyes, "I am up to anythin

id Ludovico, who had no sooner conceived the idea than

omes oftener into one's life than that odious 'but.' Bu

se such an expedition to you without proposing to myself the h

here it comes again! 'But' the second; will not the goo

been coxcomb enough to have ever hoped to be aught more to you, having been protected, as they all know, from

?" said Bianca, looking at him half laughingly, half-poutingly, with her head on one side. "Oh yes! perfectly

s wild scheme into execution-I have a confidence to give you, and may take that opportunity of making it-a confidence, not which may or may not be made, lik

him: "and then, the fact is," he continued, "that to-morrow morning will be the best morning for the purpose of all the days of the year. For we shall be quite sure that every soul here will be in bed and a

do not see why we sh

hough-you understand; and not beforehand, or our little escapade would be spoilt by some bloc

s. 'Tis the most charming notion for a finale to a Carnival that ev

ts' have been butted a

emptation of so pleasant a scheme, the way 'buts' generally are answer

get a bagarino and a pony-not from the Castelmare stables, you understand, but from a man I know and can trust-and I will come with it to the door of your lodging at six o'clock. You will stay at the ball till the end. Everybody will go by four o'clock, or soon after. That will give you ple

ingly. I will be sure to be rea

o the ball-room; but don't dance till you have not a leg left

another dance-unless, indeed, we have one mor

you are not afraid of tiring yourse

fascinating companion back to the ballroom, where the musi