s said smiling. "I did not think it necessary
to put that in, because you must know that you are Venice to me."

"That is much better," Maria said approvingly. "I think you have
improved since you have been away. Do you not think so, Giulia?"

"I don't think that sort of nonsense is an improvement," Giulia said
gravely. "Any of the young Venetian gallants can say that sort of
thing. We do not want flattery from Francisco."

"You should say you do not want it, Giulia," Maria said, laughing. "I
like it, I own, even from Francisco. It may not mean anything, but it
is pleasant nevertheless; besides, one likes to think that there is
just a little truth in it, not much, perhaps, but just a little in what
Francisco said, for instance. Of course we are not all Venice to him.
Still, just as we are pleased to see him, he is pleased to see us; and
why shouldn't he say so in a pretty way? It's all very well for you to
set up as being above flattery, Giulia, but you are young yet. I have
no doubt you will like it when you get as old as I am."

Giulia shook her head decidedly.

"I always think," she said, "when I hear a man saying flattering things
to a girl, that it is the least complimentary thing he can do, for it
is treating her as if he considers that she is a fool, otherwise he
would never say such outrageous nonsense to her."

"There, Francisco," Maria laughed, "you are fairly warned now. Beware
how you venture to pay any compliment to Giulia in future.

"It would be a dull world if every one were to think as you do, Giulia,
and to say exactly as they meant. Fancy a young man saying to you: 'I
think you are a nice sort of girl, no prettier than the rest, but good
tempered and pleasant, and to be desired because your father is rich!'
A nice sort of way that would be to be made love to!"

"There is no occasion for them to say anything at all," Giulia said
indignantly. "We don't go about saying to them, 'I think you are good
looking, and well mannered, and witty;' or, 'I like you because they
say you are a brave soldier and a good swordsman.' Why should they say
such things to us? I suppose we can tell if anyone likes us without all
that nonsense."

"Perhaps so," the elder girl assented; "and yet I maintain it's
pleasant, and at any rate it's the custom, and as it's the custom, we
must put up with it.

"What do you say, Francisco?"

"I don't know anything about it," Francis said. "Certainly some of the
compliments I