Farewell Love!

e, and told countless amusing stories, of the sort that he reserved for his agreeable moments. He joked with Laura, and with Anna; he even complimented his wife upon her dress, a new one tha

ion of vivacity, of animation, which had characterised it for some

at there were flowers in all the vases-it was in June, just a year after their talk at Sorrento-an

haps no one

ou've got yoursel

hat she had put on her new frock

presumptions are delusions. I'll bet that Lui

t know," said An

crite, Anna!"

arrant that the obstinate fidelity of Caracciolo has at last made an

e about such subjects,

aura, she i

d, it's true,"

you heartless,

se, and playfully offered a ci

smoke," s

't you l

e showed her own, shining like those

ir Minerva. Will

ither," she said,

you. You're dark, you have the Spanish type,

n, Cesare,"

can't imagine the soothing effect it has. No

rette, then," s

ave little

sighed, putting a

tle sorrows, Lau

ttle ones n

never wept?" said Anna,

ntal, I shall take my

t go away," A

ur whole life-time together," said he, ironi

and more beyond it,"

affair. I will think of it whil

are you

alk," he ans

stay here?" she

'm obliged

e early,

onsented, after a

t for you

es. Goo

ent

onate words (and, indeed, Cesare did no more than respond to the affection of Anna), she assumed the countenance of a statue, which neither feels nor hears nor sees; or else, she got up and left the r

deep thought; at any rate they could not keep up a conversation. Anna, in her lilac-coloured frock, lay in an easy-chair, leaning her hea

od night," she

a?" asked Anna, issu

staying. People

reason. You will help me

the blonde and beautiful Minerva. "Then, a

some day yourself,"

eflection of Cesare's gaiety; and th

night," and Laura

are you go

ittle; th

re you

gme,'[E] by Madam

nce? Do you want

ws! Good

ory, surging up from the heart in a single, vibrant cry of pain. Anna had read it two or three times; now she began it again, absent-mindedly. But she did not read long. A few callers came; the Marchesa Scibilia,

nversations are apt to be in a small gathering like the present, where nobody

as the last to leave; i

will come,"

her windows alight, came up to pay their respects. When the last of

ntered, with that English correctness of bearing which somewhat tempered the vivacity of his blonde

amicably. Her rings gli

said, bowing, and

sked, with that polite curiosit

he said, seating h

re they

nots'-alway

lways be

essing voice. "They were singing 'The Huguenot

hat evening," she said,

't I? The only thing to approach it was the tre

se!" she pro

on of me has never chang

rue, it wouldn't mak

? You beautiful women, admire

. Indeed, we

and of dreams, far from him. He felt all

et me know, that I may welcome you," he

trav

peak, and you don't listen to me. I say serious things to you in a jesting tone, and you understand neither the seriousness nor the joke. You leave me h

, as if he could not tear himself from that contemplation. She sometimes lowered her eyes, sometimes turned them away, sometimes fixed them upon a page of Adolphe, which she had kept in

ore you to wa

When I have this lovel

she inquired

son, my d

t me," she said, laughing, trying

ass my whole life near to you. Instead, I'm obliged to pass it among

ult," she said, w

we try it-passing our lives together? One can overcome

aid, feeling that the tal

thing," he cri

found the means to see me no m

," he answered, with genuine

your friendships. What would Cesare have sai

have heard me, you know,

," she said, wit

r. Don't tel

always

home for him, the more so because he can fi

re you

arities. I'm speaking

be q

of this command, she offe

your chari

h escaped from beneath her train. She sat with her elbow on the table, thinking. It was midnight.

o seemed to div

leave you. I'm afraid I've giv

st witt

you believe, though,

lieve

ou will remember what I have said to

" she sai

It's such a tender colour. That's the tint one sees in

ev

ovision of them there, to last a life-time. Trifling loves become

d-ni

ssuing from the satin of her sleeve. He touc

n absent from Anna's mind. And all that the young man said, which constantly impli

e. She rose and rang the b

to Anna's bedroom, which was lighted b

asked for her tea-gown of cream-coloured crape, and put it on, as if she meant to sit

a curiously wrought little key, a master-key, which he wore on his watch-chain, and which opened every door in his house. Thus he

of Adolphe in her hand. She sat still there, while she heard the servan

uld wait for him. And, as she had been doing through the whole evening, but with greater intensity than ever, she longed for the presence of her loved one. Was not every thing empty and colourless when he was awa

hold his hand in hers, to lean her head upon his shoulder in sweet, deep peace, listening to the beating of his heart, supported by his arms,

. "Cesare, Cesare," she said, trembling

t she heard a noise in her hu

ed in. Only silence and darkness! She had been mistaken. She lea

y" must mean for a man of late habits like Cesare two o'

. Ah, in her sincere, youthful faith, what a horror she had of that modern malady which corrupts the mind, depraves the conscience, and kills whatever is most noble in the soul! What could she know, poor, simple, ignorant woman, whose only belief, whose only law, whose only hope was love-what could she know of the spiritual diseases of those who have seen too much, who have loved too much, who have squandered the purest tr

table a rosary of sandal wood, which a Mi

as happy. Now she pressed her rosary to her lips, and began to repeat the long and poetical Litany, which Domenico de Guzman has dedicated to the Virgin. Ingenuously enough, she thought that in this way the time would pass more rapidly, two o'clock would strike, and Cesare would arrive. But she endeavoured in v

shed, it was two precise

nd seated herself in one of the leather arm-chairs. She felt easier here; the austerity of the big chamber, with its dark furniture,

lamplight. On a table lay a pair of gloves; they had been worn that day, and they ret

re was

like a white wave. Why did he not come home? It was late, very late. There were

sare, her dear love, where was he? She p

would be there, playing, talking, enjoying the company of his friends, forgetful of the time. It was an old habit of his, and old habits are so hard to br

ndow and went out

he Club was beginning to break up; at last Cesare would come. At the end of ten minutes, four men came out together. These also chatted together for a minute, then separate

oking up, towa

Anna," said the voice

murmured, faint wi

aning on the railing, gazing up at

na," he repeate

d not

wly, slowly; stopping no

dows of the club, but they were quite

the last to leave; an

o the room, shivering, and had scarcely strength enough to shut the window.

he night. The life of the night was spent. Everybody had gone home to bed. Then where was Cesare? Cesare, her husband, was with a woman! And jealousy began to gnaw her heart. With a woman; that was certain. The

hat w

sband's secrets, nothing o

pleasures, an interference with his habits. No doubt there were older bonds, stronger ties, that kept him from her; or it might be

oman of honourable rank and reput

en? Wh

ere, in a convulsion of tears and sobs

reenish, livid lig

cigarette in his mouth; his lips were blue. The collar of his overcoat was turned up; his hands

ashen. Her capacity for

u doing here

t. How old and used up he looked, with his hair

ing for you

nig

nig

e great

ned th

-bye,

bye, C

to her own room