A Venetian June

ring

IT

ring

anni?" asked May, who had an eye for deta

Signo

outer shore of the Giudecca, in the heavenly afternoon light. The Colonel much preferred the easy social conditions of the g

nce she commanded every point of the compass; a position which had th

e your own gondol

t perhaps a trifle forward for so young a girl. He had not been struck by it befo

d, in the grave, impersonal tone which was in such

l," May exclaimed, impatiently

Pauline queried. "He i

th him; one would never ask him about his wife and children, and think

o ask him," Uncle Dan interpos

uline. "Even poorer than the rest of

"Nanni, is your gon

norina;

be very bad for you.

belong

ery gondolier bel

was no

t so?" May

but I am no long

what a

n felt it imperatively ne

ting an island half-a-mile away, composed,

and the indiscriminating re

you?" she

enice, Signorina; m

What do you

ched to a

laconic replies of the man. May wondered whether his reticence

o at the hospi

he said, with something almost like a challenge in

as moroseness; he was

uine compassion in her voice. "It can't

, rowing with long, steady strokes, his

le sense of temerity. She felt herself on the verge of being

ni, in a gentler tone. "A

d a place at a traghetto, wouldn'

rina; I lo

emarked, highly amused at the insuccess of her catech

s and bobbers, was stretched between two stout masts, drying in the sun. Curious great bulging baskets, dingy brown in colour and shaped like giant sea-urchins, depended from the gunwales, half immersed in water, the mortal remains of small, crab-like creatures sticking to their sides. All this picturesqueness, and more besides, was reflected in the placid water. On the one hand was the quay, with its irregular row of houses done in delicious sun-baked colours, in front of which women in sulphur shawls and children in variegated rags were sunning themselves and passing

he garden, chose that moment for making a melodious observation to his mate, while a somewhat timid and tentative baby-voice from the quay lisped: "Un soldino," not with any b

e others laughed, and instantly the oar was put in motion again, the gondola g

ied, returning to the charge, with unabated interest. "It

orio, she told herself, she might be sure that the dark features would break into a flashing smile when she spoke to him. But this man could not be depended upon to look pleased at any casual notice bestowed upon him. She wondered why; she wondered why he wa

etty bits, and then you keep coming out on the lagoon again, and like as not there are marsh-bi

e lagoon was the quietest place

why you are so sure to notice any lit

had come out upon the lagoon again, and now they were skirting the pretty green Giud

May. "Nanni, could we go ashore and get so

gnorina," he answered;

t to get t

ssible, Signorina; it

gondola was creeping closer and closer to the shore, sidling in, for it was only here and there that the water was deep enough to carry the boat. Presently Nanni laid the blade of the oar flat upon the grass and so drew the boat gently in. Then, still keeping his hold upon the shore with the blade of the oar, he laid the

still," May exclaimed. "One does like

-dozen blossoms, giving an occasional glance at the gondola meanwhile, to

ne remarked. "What would become of

ested. "It doesn't appear to be

would have to do the w

tide, and as the eye wandered across the wide, unbroken stretches of the lagoon, it seemed like a vast sea of glass. The day was so clear and so still that the distant spires of Malamocco and

slands, Uncle Dan

joinder, May exclaimed: "Oh, look at the pop

r against the background of his dark figure. He dropped on one knee, reaching down to place the flowers in the Signorina's outstretched hand, and as she looked

un

ter, and, turning, May saw another gondola coming up astern. T

the same voice, descending to English. "We are

" said May, "but y

and and let us pilfer with our brushes. You won'

ose tilting about on the shore," said May; "but if you

as paying his respects to Pauline and t

met Mr. Kenwick, I

"but it was ages ago and he nev

ck begged, rapidly setting his palett

is ages ago?"

tating reply. "It was when I was fifteen and

as far as that," said Kenwic

He had, to be sure, painted several good pictures, but that was ten years ago. Since then he had lived on his reputation, materially reinforced by a not inconsiderable income. As Pauline watched his face, it struck her that hi

ave you?" Geof

poppies you wanted," s

" cried Kenwic

Daymond explained; "your dress, you

" cried May. "Uncle Dan, do you

nded to express a proper resignation, but betraying, quite unconscio

e, and presently the two artists were at work, rapidly sketching in the bright figu

faces of the young men. There was something in Kenwick's man

d abruptly, in his voice of martinet. "If

aughed. "I never got

aid Kenwick, somewhat nettled; "but i

r what seemed to her a long interval of silence.

all right," Geo

I posed for the girls in a studio on

served; upon which May concluded, mos

ould, she would rather do her as she received the poppies from the hands of the gondolier. She had one of her prettiest looks then, and the little touch of action was

ike to see,

ssful, and the scheme of colour was all he had promised. Bright as the poppies were, and well as they were indicated, without being individualised, in the sketchy handling, the really high light of the pictur

id Pauline, as she

ecovering her presence of mind: "I d

ile, was examinin

ess?" he exclaimed, forgetting, for a

is forfeited," K

urning up on the artist a glance of quic

ay," Kenwick replied.

lively appreciation of a graceful act, and

cried; "that's a present

ally, taking the picture from her unc

an-hour later; "I should much rather have had Mr. Daymond's sketc

ed, doubtfully. "Seems to me

at did very well for a nose. And, besides,

on one side," May continued, reproachfully. She

t hadn't been; your hair would

etty," May admitted. "Do you remember h

rs," the Colonel declared, cheerfully per

mething better than ours. I wonder how it wo

zia, May turned, and looking back at the gondol

a new word, and still more so with the f

e gondola gliding away in the golden afternoon light. The man was rowing slowly, against the tide, but presen