Saracinesca

is very like a fever patient in a delirium; it is rarely accountable for its actions; it scarcely ever knows what it is saying; and occasionally, without the least warning or premeditation, it

messes of boiled beans, and bread and cheese, and salad to the grooms-an institution not connected in the English mind with hunting. One after another the vehicles rolled out along the road, past Sant' Agnese, down the hill and across the Ponte Nomentana, and far up beyond to

e from time to time some rider gets into the saddle and makes himself comfortable, assures himself of girth and stirrup, and of the proper disposal of the sandwich-box and sherry-flask, gives a final word of instruction to his groom, and then moves slowly off. A Roman meet is a little less business-like than the same thing elsewhere; there is a little more dawdling, a little more conversation wh

of middle height, with unnaturally blond hair, and a fairly good complexion, which as yet she had wisely abstained from attempting to improve by artificial means; her eyes were blue, but uncertain in their glance-of the kind which do not inspire confidence; and her mouth was much admired, being small and red, with full lips. She was rapid in her movements, and she spoke in a loud voice, easily collecting people about her wherever there were any to collect. Her conversation was not brilliant, but it was so abundant that its noisy vivacity passed current for cleverness; she had a remarkably keen judgment of people, and a remarkably bad taste i

himself into trouble, and he had the reputation of being a useful member of society, an honour to which persons of doubtful veracity rarely attain. Giovanni, however, disliked him, and suspected him of many things; and although he had intended to go up to Donna Tullia, the sight of Del Ferice at her side very nearly prevented him. He strolled leisurely down the little slope, and as he neared the crowd, spoke to one or two acquaintances, mentally determining to avoid Madame Mayer, and to mount immediately. But he was

ak to me to-day?" she said ra

and faced her, bowing lo

mazingly ridiculous in

u make that tre

vey an apology as well

vanni,

ore apology and

ady to a

Donna Tullia, beginning to walk slowly fo

vertheless, a very

n to it; but you will not make me believ

ld not inflict my cross temper up

hen she answered she drew in her sma

nswered. "I am sorry I disturbed you. It is better

said Giovanni. "I am not

anion, with a little scorn. "Do not flatter yourself your l

sca, shortly; he was beg

ner of takin

ome with us, and leave

ve us round by the cross

lunch, and be home b

let my horse shirk his work.

she suddenly changed her tone, and looked down. "I wish you would come

common occurrence when a marriage has to be arranged with a widow. But he did not know that Donna Tullia was in love with him in her own odd fashion. He

e rose to Madame Mayer's pink cheeks; she felt she had mad

our," she said, with a show of annoyance, which

ically. He had yielded because he did not know how to refuse; but he a

m critically. "If you are going to be disagreeable, I release you." She s

said her companion. Donna Tullia bit her lip, and there was a moment's pause. "I

t allowed him, and she waited while Don Giovanni ordered the astonished groom to take hi

er carriage had driven into the field, and had halted a few yards from Valdarno's drag. Astrardente had taken it into his head to come to the meet with his wife, and they had arrived late. Astrardente always arrived a little late, on principle. As Giovanni and Don

a gentleman, and he did nothing of the kind; he bowed and looked calmly at the woman he loved as he passed by. Astrardente watched him keenly, and as he noticed the indifference of Saracinesca's look, he gave a curious little snuffling snort that was peculiar to him. He could have sworn that neither his wife nor Giovanni had shown the smallest interest in each other. He was satisfied. His wife was above suspicion, as he always said; but he was an old man, and had seen the world, and he kne

ir greeting, "you are preventing Don Giovanni fr

rest to the pair as they passed, and her husband rose and sat opposite her, so as to talk more at his ease. There were renewed gre

once been a winning smile. Every one knew he painted, his teeth were a miracle of American dentistry, and his wig had deceived a great portrait-painter. The

ake pretty speeches," she said. "He

llant to you," replied the old dandy, with a knowing look. Then lowering his voice,

nterrupted Donna Tullia, quickly. She spoke loud enough to be noticed

ickly at Corona. She smiled faintly

ayed behind in conversation, mounted hastily and rode after the hunt; some of the carriages turned out of the field and began to follow slowly along the road, in hopes of seeing the hounds throw off; the party who were

suggestion with her usual frank manner, fixing her blue eyes upon Corona as she spoke. There was every appearance of cordiality in the invitation; but Donna Tullia knew we

very regular people," she explained, with a slight smile, "and we are not pre

id Donna Tullia, with a rather hard laug

rry Madame Mayer. Corona knew nothing of the change his plans had undergone during the stormy interview he had had with his father; he longed, indeed, to be able to make the Duchessa understand, but any attempt at explanation would be wholly impossible. Corona would think he was inconsistent, or at least that he was willing to flirt with the gay widow, while determined not to marry her. He reflected that it was part of his self-condemnation that he should appear u

Tullia. "What in the world are you thinking of? You

ck from the absorbing train of his unpleasant thoughts. "Good

is, if we ever come back to Rome at all. Come along, Giovanni," she said, familiarly dropping the prefix from his name. After all, he was a sort of cousin, and people in Rome are very apt to call each other by their Christian names. But Donna Tullia knew what she was about; she knew that Corona d'Astrarde

rove rapidly out of the field. The laughter and loud talking came to Corona's ears, growing fainter and more distant every second, and the sound was very cruel to her; but she set her

old dandy, stroking his wife's hand. "What a singularly vulgar woma

Corona been less entirely honest and loyal and self-sacrificing, there would have been small peace in their wedlock. But Astrardente, decayed roué and worn-out dandy as he was, was in love with his wife; and she, in all the young magnificence of her beauty, submitted to be loved by him, because she had promised that she would do so, and because, having sworn, she regarded the breaking of her faith by the smallest act of unkindness as a thing beyond the bou

onna Tullia; but she would not acknowledge, even to herself, that the dull pain she felt near her heart, and that seemed to oppress he

," she answered. "I sup

t naturally like that. Nevertheless she is an excellent match for Giovanni Saracinesca. Rich, by millions. Undeniabl

was nothing the old man d

swer me?" he asked

simply. "I do not see that it is a great matc

I daresay," returned the old man. "She is gay

hink that Saracinesca might marry, for instanc

not know how gouty he was." The old fellow grinned scornfully; he had never had the gout. "Donna Tullia is a very young widow. Besides, thin

ard that,"

ne never hears, and that is one of them.

He loved money, but he loved also to spend it, especially in such a way as to make a great show with it. It

cannot imagine, from what I know of him, why he should be so anxious to g

lways had that dismal black melancholy in that family-that detestable love of secretly

actress's, superficially concealing the lines traced by years of affectation and refined egotism; and she thought of Giovanni's strong manly face, passionate indeed, but noble a

he Frangipani's," she said. "We will go

been such a ball for years as that will be. Do I ever miss an opp

ou give yourself trouble about going out on my account. Really, I am not

njoying the world, then?"

ently. "Why should I think that?

the prime of life always likes to see

to hearing her aged husband speak of hi

s quite natur

more closely against the keen bright tramontana wind, "is that such old

his iron constitution bade fair to outlast a

humour with Saracinesca to-day,"

" asked her husband, in

nerves, the sou

gipani ball," began Corona again, wit

terested in it," r

turned to the conversation with more suavity. Perhaps, in his great experience, he really appreciated

my dear," he said present

taking an interest in dress, and her old husband had an admirable taste; moreover, he took a vast pride in her appearance, and if

said Corona; "I have so many thi

man, with one of his engaging grins. "I desire that you have a new gown for this ball

answered Corona, with a little laugh; "though I do not b

elf-"why, as many as ten years ago!" he added, laughing in his turn, perhaps at nearly having s

impress men at all nor women either." She spoke lightly, please

, my dear?" asked old A

ent," answered

on. It would seem a light thing to most wives of aged husbands to have taken a fancy to a man such as Giovanni Saracinesca. But the more Corona thought of it, the more certain it appeared to her that she was committing a great sin. It weighed heavily upon her mind, and took from her the innocent pleasure she was wont to feel in driving in the bright evening air in the Villa Borghese. It took the

ippo," she said to hers