new situation. What else could I do
but release you from it?"

"Who told you that you were an embarrassment to me? Have I ever said
or intimated anything of the kind? Could I not speak to you, as I
did, about your professional life without wounding so deeply your
sensibility?"

"People feel things as they feel them," replied Luigia. "I had the
inward consciousness that you would rather I were out of your house than
in it. My future you had already given me the means to secure; you see
for yourself it is opening in a manner that ought to reassure you."

"It seems to me so brilliant that I hope you will not think me
indiscreet if I ask whose hand, more fortunate than mine, has produced
this happy result."

"That of a great Swedish nobleman," replied Luigia, without hesitation.
"Or rather, I should say, as the friend of a lady who took an interest
in me, he procured me an engagement at Her Majesty's Theatre; the kind
encouragement of the public has done the rest."

"Say, rather, your own talent; I was present at the performance this
evening."

Making him a coquettish courtesy, Luigia said,--

"I hope you were satisfied with your humble servant."

"Your musical powers did not surprise me, for those I knew already; but
those transports of dramatic passion, your powerful acting, so sure of
itself, did certainly astonish me."

"It comes from having suffered much," replied Luigia; "suffering is a
great teacher."

"Suffered? Yes, I know you did, in Italy. But I have liked to feel that
after your arrival in France--"

"Always; I have always suffered," she said in a voice of emotion. "I was
not born under a happy star."

"That 'always' seems like a reproach to me," said Sallenauve, "and yet I
do not know what wrong I can have done you."

"You have done me no wrong; the harm was there!" she cried, striking her
breast,--"within me!"

"Probably some foolish fancy, such as that of leaving my house suddenly,
because your mistaken sense of honor made you think yourself in my way."

"Not mistaken," she replied. "I know what was in your thoughts. If only
on account of what you had done for me, I knew I could never aspire to
your esteem."

"But, my dear Luigia, I call such ideas absurd. Have I ever shown you
any want of consideration? How could I? Your conduct has always been
exemplary."

"Yes, I tried to do everything that would give you a good opinion of me;
but I was none the less the widow of Benedetto."

"What