Taquisara

a landlocked lagoon or a Swiss lake. In winter the roses blossom amongst the laurels, and before the rose leaves are all fallen the violets peep out in the borders; the broad, fan-like palms stand u

the lower villages. In Naples it is sometimes dreary when the water-laden southwest sends up its mountains of black clouds. But somehow in soft Posilippo the wi

s at the foot of Bianca Corleone's garden. It was so warm that she was sitting there herself, a book unread on her knees, her marvellous

t time and not world-worn as he was later, nor prematurely gaunt and weather-beaten. He was only five-and-twenty years of age, then, and the beautiful Bianca was but twenty-one, and had already been ma

at that, and perhaps there was little enough to be said. To all intents and purposes, Corleone had abandoned her, and Ghisleri was o

, as one familiar with the place, Veronica Serra came swiftly down the walk towards the pair. Ghisleri rose to his feet,-a tall, fair man, sunb

ronica, smiling innocently.

dawn of colour rose in Bianc

ange has happened

him. He moved forward for her the chair on which he had been sitting,

he said to Bianca. "If you will allow me, I

h them, and Veronica sat down. Her expression was strange, Bianca thought, as though she did not know whether to laugh or cry. Ye

and then drew breath, holding both of B

io Macomer? Oh!

ehension, for Veronica was almost her only

do you speak in that way? Do you know anything about

ed some seconds before she spoke. The sins of the earth were familiar to h

he said quietly. "He is

y one's uncle-but he is

with your name,

is really not old, though his hair is a little grey. I think I would perhaps rather have him just for a frie

Gianluca della Spina?"

er blankly. "Why him, particularly? I h

At least, every one says so. I have heard it from Taqu

d! Why does he not ask for me, if that is true? Not that I would ever mar

father had done his best to bring about the marriage. She was

tfully, and hesitating as to how much

nge?" asked t

e is really madly in love with you, and is positively ill about it. That is why

aid Veronica. "He is my

the sam

e a heroine in a book-a man dying for love of me, whom I scarcely know! It is too rid

do not say that. It is for yourself

eronica. "But I scarcely know him-and I have heard

es

man asked if the princess would receive Baron Taquisara. Bianca ordered him

aquisara?" she

ce or twice at balls, I think. Yes-he was introduced to me somewhe

use Signor Ghisleri is here. They will both go away before l

I am," she added. "My aunt thinks I have gone for a drive to think over the matter. I j

mbard and the Saracen types, fine specimens both, in the prime of youth and strength. Bianca gave the Sicilian her hand, and he bowed gravely to Veronic

affected confidence in himself. But he hesitated a moment before he spoke, for he did not now remember that he had ever before entered intentionally into a serious conversation with a young girl, in the whole course of his life. The customs of the society in which he lived made such things we

at she had seen, when she had looked into the glass on the previous evening-neither more nor less, except that she was dressed for walking, and something feathery was around her s

anything he had ever discovered in the sad and faultless features of the already famous beauty

surprise he felt that the blood had mounted in his face, and in Veronica's own thin, young cheeks there was a faint and lovely tinge which lasted but a moment and then faded, coming again more str

Taquisara, leaning forward so as to speak close to her, but looking dow

ifferent from anything she had hitherto heard and seen. She saw that he

y, for she did not know whether

I have been with him this morning. You have heard his name o

and again the colour came a

id. "I-I know

r, for he did not wish Bianca Corleone to hear him. "He loves you so much that he is a

startled eyes to him, and her lips parted, but she said n

nd he was told that there was no hope, becau

mounted a third time in her cheeks. "But it is not true!" she

not quite true, for I have been to see Co

d?" asked Veronica,

Gianluca's. I thought I would speak to her. Since, by a miracle, we have met, I have spoken directly to you. Do you forgive me? I hope so, though I daresay that no mere acquaintance has ever talked as I am talking.

e and grave now, for Taq

ful!" she

i as not to have noticed that Veronica and Taquisara were speaking almost in whispers, wh

adful?" she ask

ca, glancing at her, and turni

that this was the first real crisis in her life, and that she m

e said to

steps that descended to the sea, and stood on the uppermost one, looking out. Bianca and Ghisleri watched her in surprise and Bianca made a slight movement, as though t

lt that, as the married woman, she was responsible for the observance of social custom. But in a moment she realized t

ri; "let them alone. It is better,

over the blue water, and Taquisara was beside her. She wai

after day. I am not very sensitive, as a rule, but I have had a strange impression which I shall never forget. Gianluca and I met when we were

asked Veronica, stil

s man, a good man." Taquisara smiled gravely. "That was e

the young girl. "Are a

a was not. One saw that all the little that was bad in his life wa

is friend," said

y of what the man had said

st for friendship-love, if you choose to call it so. I have heard people speak eloquently of friendship-so have you perhaps. And we both understand what it means, though many do not. That is why I speak as I do, and if I do not speak well, you must forgive me, and feel the meaning I cannot express to your ears. Gianluca l

Veronica might perhaps like Bosio. She was listening, her eyes fixed on the distan

d presented itself in his thoughts. "If you knew Gianluca, you would understand. It is because I know him well tha

at the sudden proposition, which was a bl

o hesitate at trifles where wome

-day by accident. It seems to you-what shall I say?-unladylike!" Taquisara laughed scornfully. "What does it matter whether you are unladylike or not, so long as you are womanly, and kind, and brave? I am telling you truths you have never heard, but you have a woman's right to hear them, whatever you may think of me. And I speak for another. I have the holy right to say for him, for his life, for his happiness, all that I would not say for myself, perhaps. And I do say, what is to prevent Gianluca from being here to-morrow, or this very afternoon, as I am here now, and why should it be such a dreadful thing for you to come here, knowing that you will meet him? Do you think that he would not give the last drop of

r, while she drank in eagerly the words he spoke. It was the first time in her life that she had ever heard a man speak to her of love, and, in his rough eloquence, he spoke well and strongly, though it was not for himself. In his own cause, the words might not have come so readily, but they were not now the less evidently sincere, because t

as though you lov

and I cannot, though I know it all. You must hear it

onica's protest broke off r

ut to-morrow at this hour Gianluca will be here, though he has not been able to leave the

appointment-

time it was genuine shame of doing a thing which she had

Gianluca will come often, too-and if you chance to meet to-morrow, it will be an accident of fate, that is all, as you chanced t

elf, still blushing, but Taquisara was too since

ether you will come to-morrow, or not? I shall perhaps never know, for I shall not come with him. I have been here to-day-what excuse could I give for calling again to-morrow? Donna Bianca would think it strange. I can hope, for his sake. I can tell you that no woman has the right to throw away such love as his, to ruin such a

of her glove. She was wondering whether, if she came on the next day, and stood with Gianluca della Spina

ianluca she knew,-she should be better satisfied with the world. For as things seemed just then, she was not satisfied at all, and the future

u know him little. If you chanced to be his friend, instea

And his lip curled a little, thou

ago, you said that he was not to be compared to your friend. H

an, from what I

do

ell you what your rights are, that you are not in the position of the average young girl, just from the convent, who accepts the choice her father and mother make for her-because, perhaps, she may never have a

and their eyes

he said

Acireale, a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, a Grandee of Spain of the First Class-and many times a millionnaire. For you have all that to give the man you marry. Grant that he is the best of men. Is his brother wholly disinterested? I sp

in his life!" answered Ve

ngdom. But Garibaldi swept all that away, and Macomer's chances with it, and the countess is a disappointed woman, for her husband has remained just what he always was-plain Count Macomer, with his name and his palace, neither of them extraordinary. Truly, Donna Veronica, though you may refuse to speak to me again for what I say, I will dare to tell you that you must

me," said Veronica, a little pale, and turning half ro

ubts, and a love that can take a man and tear him and hurt him until he dies has a right to a woman's hearing-and to her charity-before she throws it away. I ask no forgiveness of you for saying that. Gianlu

he had once more looked into his eyes, before she turned toward