thly passions. But
such was Glyndon's mood that their very hush only served to deepen the
wild desires that preyed upon his soul; and the solemn stars, that are
mysteries in themselves, seemed, by a kindred sympathy, to agitate the
wings of the spirit no longer contented with its cage. As he gazed, a
star shot from its brethren, and vanished from the depth of space!

CHAPTER 3.XIII.

O, be gone!
By Heaven, I love thee better than myself,
For I came hither armed against myself.
--"Romeo and Juliet."

The young actress and Gionetta had returned from the theatre; and Viola
fatigued and exhausted, had thrown herself on a sofa, while Gionetta
busied herself with the long tresses which, released from the fillet
that bound them, half-concealed the form of the actress, like a veil of
threads of gold. As she smoothed the luxuriant locks, the old nurse
ran gossiping on about the little events of the night, the scandal and
politics of the scenes and the tireroom. Gionetta was a worthy soul.
Almanzor, in Dryden's tragedy of "Almahide," did not change sides with
more gallant indifference than the exemplary nurse. She was at last
grieved and scandalised that Viola had not selected one chosen cavalier.
But the choice she left wholly to her fair charge. Zegri or Abencerrage,
Glyndon or Zanoni, it had been the same to her, except that the
rumours she had collected respecting the latter, combined with his
own recommendations of his rival, had given her preference to the
Englishman. She interpreted ill the impatient and heavy sigh with which
Viola greeted her praises of Glyndon, and her wonder that he had of late
so neglected his attentions behind the scenes, and she exhausted all
her powers of panegyric upon the supposed object of the sigh. "And
then, too," she said, "if nothing else were to be said against the other
signor, it is enough that he is about to leave Naples."

"Leave Naples!--Zanoni?"

"Yes, darling! In passing by the Mole to-day, there was a crowd round
some outlandish-looking sailors. His ship arrived this morning, and
anchors in the bay. The sailors say that they are to be prepared to sail
with the first wind; they were taking in fresh stores. They--"

"Leave me, Gionetta! Leave me!"

The time had already passed when the girl could confide in Gionetta.
Her thoughts had advanced to that point when the heart recoils from all
confidence, and feels that it cannot be comprehended. Alone now, in